My earthquake kit "essay"
Had to type why the things we are carrying in our kit are so important. I find this part of the assignment a waste of time. B| You can just tell that I am doing my best NOT to sound sarcastic.
Lanie Trinh
Geology 1
So I Hear There's Going to Be An Earthquake
There is nothing like an adventure when you're prepared for it (except when you're not prepared). So one of the first of many things I had to assemble for this earthquake kit is a map of my house. The gas valve is located right next to the three mailboxes (one that belongs to a small apartment right behind my house and the other to my landlord's house) just to the left of the outside steps. It is good to know where it is because there is no point in having a gas valve on during an earthquake unless I want my whole family to be blown to bits. I am a horrible artist, but this map is sufficient enough to let others know where the gas valve is. The mailman sees it every day. It is rather hard to miss.
One of the first things I would grab in any sort of disaster is a flashlight. Not only I have packed myself a flashlight in the kit, I also have one by my bed. After all, what if a major earthquake happened at night? I would need to locate my kit after all. And then I would have two flashlights! Hurray for dual wielding! Really, the importance of a flashlight is highlighted in many movies and videogames. The only downside of it (besides going out) is that it highlights the monsters encountered. Hopefully I will not run into any monsters that might possibly spawn from underground.
The next thing I assembled is a radio, which is more reliable than a television or a phone since it is battery powered and does not have to be wired up. In an emergency such as an earthquake, there will be announcements on the radio regarding the disaster that would be vital to know. The radio is conveniently lined up to an NPR station. I have also packed batteries in case the radio (and flashlight) dies out.
In case the spare batteries for the flashlight die out, I have brought matches and candles. And in case the spare batteries die out, I have brought two boxes of matches and candles. The matches are included in any basic survival kit, served to function as a source for warmth (whether it is for my candle or to make a fire) or as a way to calm your nerves if you smoke (I do not). Should the earthquake utterly decimate the Los Angeles area, we will need fire to survive, especially in the dark.
I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than they sound. Aside from collecting garbage, trash bags can be used for storage, make shelter, and very stylish ponchos. I even have a mini sharpie on my keychain that I can use to draw on it (most likely "HELP ME"). And for a morbid purpose (but a purpose nonetheless), they also serve as temporary body bags should the situation require them. My two forms of identification are my California ID and my school ID, which are useful to prove my identity should the situation (such as the need to prove insurance) call for it (and to save time identifying my body if I do not make it. Got to prepare for the worst, right?). Hopefully it won't come to that because I have also brought a first aid kit that contains many different types of bandages, four Extra-strength tablets, two ibuprofen tablets, two aspirin tablets, four antibiotic ointment packs, eight alcohol cleansing pads, twelve antiseptic cleansers (sting free, too!), and a single burn relief pack. It also has different types of pads such as gauze and eye pads, and instruments such as a set of tweezers and two latex gloves. For injuries, it has a single emergency blanket, first aid tape roll, five butterfly wound closures, and one instant cold pack. All of this in a plastic case.
My extra set of clothes is an embarrassing outfit that makes Crocs look good. It is a matching set of sleepwear that I would wear in the colder nights. It may look like a Picasso failure but it really does keep me warm. I will likely have a jacket with me already (I usually wear a jacket, thin or thick every day) so staying warm should not be too hard. I have also packed a pair of red work out gloves that are fingerless, but the grip it provides is amazing. Although they are fingerless, I actually have a harder time with full fingered gloves. Those never fit right. The fingerless gloves are sturdy and durable. My shoes are a pair of converse that are actually knock offs that have shown to be more durable than the actual brand. I had this pair for two years and even hiked with these. They are just as sturdy as my gloves.
I would never resort to cannibalism. To keep myself from falling into such a moral killing death trap (and from starvation), I have packed instant noodles, canned foods, disgusting but filling pizza snacks, peanut butter, and spam. The instant noodles can be boiled with the water and fire from the matches, but I actually intend to eat them raw. This is actually a very common snack to have in Asia and I have grown up on snacking on these. These are more filling than a bag of chips also. Half of one keeps me full. The can opener, obviously, opens the canned foods including the cans of spam (the flip thing on the spam can does not really work). The pizza snacks are absolutely disgusting but they are loaded with calories and will kill me full (or make me lose my appetite). The noodles and canned foods are the best. Water is always essential because it keeps you hydrated. These snacks and foods I brought are dry and salty, so water is a huge plus.
I think one of the two things that should also be included in the kit would be hand sanitizer. You would not want to waste the gallons of drinking water you stored, so hand sanitizer fulfills the cleansing purpose. And I apologize that this may sound disgusting, but feminine hygiene supplies would be a necessity for me. I do not think I need to further explain why I (and my mother) would need those. I am always up for an adventure and am usually a light traveler, but when it comes to feminine needs, it is serious business.
And here's what I initially had, as placeholders:
And in case the spare batteries die out, I have brought matches and candles. The candles will help me locate through the dark like the flashlight will. And light a decent vigil if anyone dies. :D
Annnd in case anybody dies, I assembled ten large plastic trash bags that will serve as temporary body bags.
I doubt that would be necessary though, I got a basic first aid kit that even the biggest idiot like me would know how to use.
spiritflyswatter (12:49:14 AM): I honestly did not know what the trash bags were for.
spiritflyswatter (12:49:17 AM): I guess they're multipurpose.
One of the first things I would grab in any sort of disaster is a flashlight. Not only I have packed myself a flashlight in the kit, I also have one by my bed. After all, what if an earthquake happened at night? I would need to locate my kit after all. And then I would have two flashlights! Hurray for dual wielding!
spiritflyswatter (12:56:27 AM): my god how do I write this seriously
spiritflyswatter (1:15:53 AM): I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than an experienced prostitute.
spiritflyswatter (1:15:57 AM): dsafdsgjuhg I CAN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
spiritflyswatter (1:16:02 AM): WE ALREADY KNOW WHY THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT
spiritflyswatter (1:16:05 AM): WHY DO WE HAVE TO TYPE IT
I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than they sound. Trash bags can be used for storage, make shelter, and very stylish ponchos. I even have a mini sharpie that I can use to draw on it (most likely "HELP ME").
spiritflyswatter (1:21:47 AM): Thaaaaat's a little better
Removed sentence:
When I wear [the gloves], I feel like I can punch out bears (not that I would want too, bears don't deserve that) and lift ten thousand cars (or punch cars, because cars are not bears).
I am also very tempted to add "(except Sundays)" on that bit about the mailman. But nah. Everyday AT WORK for him. Yeaaaah.
Anyway, I also have answered some questions from the DA meme in that voice post there.
Now it's time for me to sleep...and prepare to write a whole story in one day.
Lanie Trinh
Geology 1
So I Hear There's Going to Be An Earthquake
There is nothing like an adventure when you're prepared for it (except when you're not prepared). So one of the first of many things I had to assemble for this earthquake kit is a map of my house. The gas valve is located right next to the three mailboxes (one that belongs to a small apartment right behind my house and the other to my landlord's house) just to the left of the outside steps. It is good to know where it is because there is no point in having a gas valve on during an earthquake unless I want my whole family to be blown to bits. I am a horrible artist, but this map is sufficient enough to let others know where the gas valve is. The mailman sees it every day. It is rather hard to miss.
One of the first things I would grab in any sort of disaster is a flashlight. Not only I have packed myself a flashlight in the kit, I also have one by my bed. After all, what if a major earthquake happened at night? I would need to locate my kit after all. And then I would have two flashlights! Hurray for dual wielding! Really, the importance of a flashlight is highlighted in many movies and videogames. The only downside of it (besides going out) is that it highlights the monsters encountered. Hopefully I will not run into any monsters that might possibly spawn from underground.
The next thing I assembled is a radio, which is more reliable than a television or a phone since it is battery powered and does not have to be wired up. In an emergency such as an earthquake, there will be announcements on the radio regarding the disaster that would be vital to know. The radio is conveniently lined up to an NPR station. I have also packed batteries in case the radio (and flashlight) dies out.
In case the spare batteries for the flashlight die out, I have brought matches and candles. And in case the spare batteries die out, I have brought two boxes of matches and candles. The matches are included in any basic survival kit, served to function as a source for warmth (whether it is for my candle or to make a fire) or as a way to calm your nerves if you smoke (I do not). Should the earthquake utterly decimate the Los Angeles area, we will need fire to survive, especially in the dark.
I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than they sound. Aside from collecting garbage, trash bags can be used for storage, make shelter, and very stylish ponchos. I even have a mini sharpie on my keychain that I can use to draw on it (most likely "HELP ME"). And for a morbid purpose (but a purpose nonetheless), they also serve as temporary body bags should the situation require them. My two forms of identification are my California ID and my school ID, which are useful to prove my identity should the situation (such as the need to prove insurance) call for it (and to save time identifying my body if I do not make it. Got to prepare for the worst, right?). Hopefully it won't come to that because I have also brought a first aid kit that contains many different types of bandages, four Extra-strength tablets, two ibuprofen tablets, two aspirin tablets, four antibiotic ointment packs, eight alcohol cleansing pads, twelve antiseptic cleansers (sting free, too!), and a single burn relief pack. It also has different types of pads such as gauze and eye pads, and instruments such as a set of tweezers and two latex gloves. For injuries, it has a single emergency blanket, first aid tape roll, five butterfly wound closures, and one instant cold pack. All of this in a plastic case.
My extra set of clothes is an embarrassing outfit that makes Crocs look good. It is a matching set of sleepwear that I would wear in the colder nights. It may look like a Picasso failure but it really does keep me warm. I will likely have a jacket with me already (I usually wear a jacket, thin or thick every day) so staying warm should not be too hard. I have also packed a pair of red work out gloves that are fingerless, but the grip it provides is amazing. Although they are fingerless, I actually have a harder time with full fingered gloves. Those never fit right. The fingerless gloves are sturdy and durable. My shoes are a pair of converse that are actually knock offs that have shown to be more durable than the actual brand. I had this pair for two years and even hiked with these. They are just as sturdy as my gloves.
I would never resort to cannibalism. To keep myself from falling into such a moral killing death trap (and from starvation), I have packed instant noodles, canned foods, disgusting but filling pizza snacks, peanut butter, and spam. The instant noodles can be boiled with the water and fire from the matches, but I actually intend to eat them raw. This is actually a very common snack to have in Asia and I have grown up on snacking on these. These are more filling than a bag of chips also. Half of one keeps me full. The can opener, obviously, opens the canned foods including the cans of spam (the flip thing on the spam can does not really work). The pizza snacks are absolutely disgusting but they are loaded with calories and will kill me full (or make me lose my appetite). The noodles and canned foods are the best. Water is always essential because it keeps you hydrated. These snacks and foods I brought are dry and salty, so water is a huge plus.
I think one of the two things that should also be included in the kit would be hand sanitizer. You would not want to waste the gallons of drinking water you stored, so hand sanitizer fulfills the cleansing purpose. And I apologize that this may sound disgusting, but feminine hygiene supplies would be a necessity for me. I do not think I need to further explain why I (and my mother) would need those. I am always up for an adventure and am usually a light traveler, but when it comes to feminine needs, it is serious business.
And here's what I initially had, as placeholders:
And in case the spare batteries die out, I have brought matches and candles. The candles will help me locate through the dark like the flashlight will. And light a decent vigil if anyone dies. :D
Annnd in case anybody dies, I assembled ten large plastic trash bags that will serve as temporary body bags.
I doubt that would be necessary though, I got a basic first aid kit that even the biggest idiot like me would know how to use.
spiritflyswatter (12:49:14 AM): I honestly did not know what the trash bags were for.
spiritflyswatter (12:49:17 AM): I guess they're multipurpose.
One of the first things I would grab in any sort of disaster is a flashlight. Not only I have packed myself a flashlight in the kit, I also have one by my bed. After all, what if an earthquake happened at night? I would need to locate my kit after all. And then I would have two flashlights! Hurray for dual wielding!
spiritflyswatter (12:56:27 AM): my god how do I write this seriously
spiritflyswatter (1:15:53 AM): I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than an experienced prostitute.
spiritflyswatter (1:15:57 AM): dsafdsgjuhg I CAN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
spiritflyswatter (1:16:02 AM): WE ALREADY KNOW WHY THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT
spiritflyswatter (1:16:05 AM): WHY DO WE HAVE TO TYPE IT
I assembled nine large plastic trash bags that are more multipurpose than they sound. Trash bags can be used for storage, make shelter, and very stylish ponchos. I even have a mini sharpie that I can use to draw on it (most likely "HELP ME").
spiritflyswatter (1:21:47 AM): Thaaaaat's a little better
Removed sentence:
When I wear [the gloves], I feel like I can punch out bears (not that I would want too, bears don't deserve that) and lift ten thousand cars (or punch cars, because cars are not bears).
I am also very tempted to add "(except Sundays)" on that bit about the mailman. But nah. Everyday AT WORK for him. Yeaaaah.
Anyway, I also have answered some questions from the DA meme in that voice post there.
Now it's time for me to sleep...and prepare to write a whole story in one day.