A reason to be ready for anything!

I watched a video of my friend from Church Bill's story of being rescued at sea. At the time of writing this there is no media on the website in the hyperlink but it says there will be soon. I saw the discovery channel video on his facebook page. It is an amazing story of God's grace and a story of a miracle only God could provide. While I trust God fully, I believe he gave us the ability to have options. I often get people bugging me for what I call my EDC or Everyday Carry items. Which tend to include at least a flashlight and a Leatherman Multitool. My current EDC items include my cell phone, a pen, notepad, Streamlight Stylus Pro, Leatherman Wave, Spyderco Delica 4 and my keys which includes a micro Fox40 whistle.

It is times like what happened to Bill and his friends that spark the reason for my EDC system. In his story the boat they were on capsized in the sea and it took several days to get rescued, praise God that they all are okay now! That being said, while everyone has an EDC not everyone makes one that gives them as many options as mine does. And you know what? that's fine, it's what they are comfortable with. If I was on the boat with Bill and his friend and father I would have built a special kit of items to have on my body in case of emergency. On the high seas it would have probably been kept in a waist rig (or what is often called a fanny pack) and consisted of a waterproof seaworthy marine LED flashlight, a small marine LED strobe light, a Signal Mirror, Rite-in-the-rain notepad, a pencil, a Spyderco Pacific Salt folding knife, about 10 feet of 550 para cord at least one glow stick and a flare. I might have sprung for renting a marine Personal Locator Beacon on a lanyard around my neck or strapped to the waist rig. These items would have been affixed to my body in the waist rig so that if I fell overboard or anything separated me from the boat and alone I would still have all this gear. While there is definitely more gear on the boat it can't hurt to have some stuff on your body.

Now why would I have these items on me? well because like I said, I like to have options! Imagine if I didn't have this stuff and was to fall overboard and no one noticed right away...I wouldn't have had time when falling off the boat to grab some gear! This stuff could save my life! here are just a few uses for the items I listed...

Marine LED Flashlight

• Signaling
  
• light source (if the boat died but didn't capsize)

Marine Strobe Light

• Signaling

Signal Mirror

• Signaling

Rite-in-the-rain notepad and pencil

• take notes without worry of water damage

Spyderco Pacific Salt Folding Knife

• It's always good to have a knife on you
• This model wouldn't rust from the salt with it's H1 steel
• Defense against sharks (I don't like to be unable to protect myself)
• cut rope, wetsuits or anything that might need cutting

10 feet of 550 Para Cord

• Well for one 550 para cord is able to hold up to 550lbs without a problem so it's strong
• To keep the crew together in case the boat capsized (Just like the guys did)

Glow Stick

• Gives 12 hours of light so it could be a good signal device for at night for air rescue

Flare

• Anyone who has been at sea knows a flair is a great way to get help
• Again a signaling device

Personal Locator Beacon

• These devices are used all the time to locate lost people in mountains, on the high seas etc. It would have alerted officials immediately of their distress and given their exact GPS location for a quick rescue.

You'll notice a lot of this stuff was aimed at signaling. I think one of the most pressing issues when lost at sea is being found. That and the biggest risk I could see of being at sea is getting lost. In addition I'd make sure there was a good first aid kit on the boat.

Some people make fun of my EDC items, that usually ends when they need to open a package and my knife saves the day or when the power goes out and they need to find something my flashlight comes into action. It's just giving me more options for any situation that may come up.


Watch Bill and team's story HERE