Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Overly Prepared People Share Which Item They Carry Around In Case Of Emergency

Overly Prepared People Share Which Item They Carry Around In Case Of Emergency
Make us preferred on Google

We carry all sorts of things we might need with us on a regular basis: our cell phones, wallets, a couple of adhesive bandages, that loose change that always seems to be in the bottom of your pocket unless you actually need it. Some people though, have taken this to the extreme.


I grew up hearing the phrase "We might need it later". My grandmother was one of those people who always took a big stack of napkins at a fast food place, kept all of her sauce packets, and re-used Cool-Whip and Yogurt containers to store leftovers. She always had a book of matches on her, though she never smoked, in case she needed to start a fire for some reason.


I usually carry a multi-tool and a lighter, just in case, and they've proven invaluable in both emergencies and everyday life (I can usually manage to light candles and open that annoying plastic packaging, at least).

When Reddit user howdoiuseredditdotcom asked:

"What's something you carry around with you for the sole purpose of 'Oh, I might need this one day'?"

some of the replies were absolutely bizarre. You'll find some of the best below.

Seems Valid

Giphy

I don't smoke, but for 20 years I've carried a lighter. Why?

The end of The Fifth Element. They almost didn't have fire, and that would have been disastrous.

Do I think my keychain lighter will be the difference between life and the end of all life as we know it in an all-consuming darkness? Probably not.

But...what if?

-Chairboy

Desperate Need For Popcorn?

One day at work the glass plate in the microwave broke. My coworker had an extra one in his car.

-minidressageduo

Don't Panic

Giphy

A towel

-sar2828

Hitchhiking again are we?

-F***BagMcGeer

All Things Should Be Googly

I have a tiny container of googly eyes in my purse for whenever something looks like it should be a little more googly.

-echoglow

Community Cat Love

I carry a cat toy in my purse in case I run into a stray cat that needs something to play with

-inangijala

Spontaneous Tennis

Giphy

For the longest time, I kept a bag of tennis balls in the trunk of my car.

Just in case.

Just in case of what? I don't know. A youth pickup baseball game? A random urge to play catch with no mitts? I highly doubt a spontaneous game of tennis since I didn't have a racket.

-Steve2294

You might come across a dog in desperate need of one to play with.

-i-fear-rivers

Sometimes You Just Have To Try

I've carried a get out of jail free card from a 1940s monopoly set in my wallet for the past 8 years. I've used it once during a traffic stop when I was speeding, made the cop chuckle and got me out of a ticket. Sometimes you just gotta make em laugh lol

-Bobthehog

"Sir you were going 90mph in a 65. What do you have to say for yourself?"

*Hands over a get out of jail free card*

"Damnit, you're free to go! SLOW Down!"

-PM_Me_SomeStuff2

Emergency...Magicians? We Have Questions.

I've always carried around a comedically small deck of cards in my bag, no matter where I go. I feel like I live with the fear of ending up somewhere with no signal, and that I'd have to entertain myself for a few hours.

Or emergency magicians.

-cococrew

I'm not the only one!!! This made me so happy, I'll tell you a fun little story\~

So, I've been carrying a small deck of cards in my purse for years. Rarely/never used them. But almost exactly a year ago, I was sitting in a dentist's waiting room and I knew I'd be there for about an hour. This doesn't bother me too much, since I have other things to do, but I see a mom with 3 little kids and they are clearly starting to get bored.

She's trying to keep them entertained with reading magazines, but only the oldest two are really old enough to semi-care about what's in them.

I have severe social anxiety, but I knew that I'd kick myself forever if I didn't at least try...

I pulled the cards out of my purse and slowly approached, trying to figure out how to not appear like a threat, and asked the kids if they'd like to play a card came on the coffee table (making very sure to direct the question to his mother as well).


The older two kids were wary, the mother was smiling, and the smallest boy was EXCITED! He got permission from his mom and I sat on the floor across from him and started shuffling. I very quickly found out, though, that he had NO idea how to 1. play card games or 2. hold cards. So, his older sister begrudgingly helped him while I explained how to play Go Fish.

I'm really terrible at guessing ages, but I'd say the little one was maybe 4-5 and SO cute! His sister and brother eventually got more into the games, but it was so much fun to watch him get excited about picking something to ask and giggling and hiding under the table when he thought he was doing really well.

To wrap up this unrequested and long story, we played Go Fish until the 4th child was done with their appointment and they could leave. The last thing I heard as the door was shutting was the little boy telling his mom, "that was FUN!"

tl;dr - Keep carrying that deck of cards. Someday you might make a memory out of it! :)

-KittenKindness

A Crucial Digit

Giphy

A mannequin finger.

Found it by a dumpster one day.

You never know when that'll come in handy.

-Swansy101

Tactical?

A spork.

A K-Bar tactical spork to be specific.

-Cheftard

A Very Vigilant DM

A tiny bag containing a complete set of rpg dice, because you never know when a random game of D&D might pop up.

-SessileRaptor

One Brick, Two Brick

Giphy

Used to carry two bricks in my car. Whenever I'd be asked why there were two bricks in my car, I'd explain it was for problems one brick couldn't solve.

-mrkamikaze5

You're on a slippery slope that will lead to your car being completely filled with bricks if you aren't careful my friend

-theillini19

Funnily enough, that's one location bricks would actually come in handy.

-Preseli

Fantastic Elastic

I always carry not one, not two, but three hair ties with me. One's usually in my hair, one of the extras is in case somebody else needs one but doesn't have their own, and the third is in case the one I'm using breaks. There have been many days I've needed two; either someone asked me for an extra or I break the one I'm currently using, but I've never needed all three... Yet.

-MasteringTheFlames

Lifesaver

GSW (Gunshot Wound)Trauma kit.

TQ, QuikClot, and an Izzy bandage.

I hope I never need it.

-ac7ss

Fallout Preparedness

Giphy

Iodine pills. I don't really think of myself as a 'doomsday prepper', but hey, if and when those bombs drop, guess whose thyroid is gonna be (mostly) protected from radiation? This guy's.

-gustofheir

Time Travel Insurance

Two US silver dollars with the dates warn off and two gold nuggets in a small leather pouch. Its my insurance against time travel. It insures that in no matter what time period I might find myself in, I can pay for a room and a warm meal. I ve had some .. odd back up plans...

-infinus5

Wedding Rescuer

I always have a Fisher Bullet space pen in my pocket. I use it too much that I don't think of it as a "just in case" thing (unlike the safety pin on my Keychain).

However, I was once at a Jewish wedding, and when the bride and groom and witnesses went to sign the Ketubah, the rabbi discovered her pen had died. I was able to save the wedding! (and gave the pen as an extra wedding gift).

-Thetechguru_net

As Does Every Prepared Adventurer

Giphy

A collection of potions of varying restorative properties and strengths. For that casual unexpected boss fight.

-Wiknetti

For Emergency Parties

I carry biodegradable confetti for when I need to celebrate. It's always on me and has a special pocket in my backpack.

-mbeanbeanbean

Sometimes It's The Little Things That Make All The Difference

Giphy

I carry around an emergency pack of cigarettes and a lighter in my purse. I don't actually smoke, but there was one evening, in a grocery store parking lot when a woman drove up next to me, rolled down her window, and asked me if I had a light. She was wearing scrubs and looked like she just got off the world's longest shift at the hospital and was DONE with everyone's sh*t. Luckily, I had a lighter, and gave her a light. She looked like I saved her sanity. I just want to be prepared for if it happens again.

-sirdigbykittencaesar


What is something that you carry with you "just in case"? Let us know in the comments!

More from Trending

Roseanne Barr (left) lashes out at former TV son Michael Fishman (right) over his comments about the Roseanne reboot’s cancellation.
Can’t Be Censored; Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images

Roseanne Barr Lashes Out At 'Little F—king Worm' Former Co-Star Michael Fishman For Saying Reboot Was 'Rightfully Canceled'

Roseanne Barr would like everyone to know she's not bitter. Not even a little.

Sure, she dropped 13 F-bombs in two minutes, called her former TV son Michael Fishman a “little f***ing worm,” celebrated his departure from The Conners, and floated the possibility of suing him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Travis Kelce; Taylor Swift
Michael Owens/Getty Images; NBC

Travis Kelce Reacts To Memes Of Taylor's Viral 'That's My Husband' Video—And They're Hilariously Accurate

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have been a favorite celebrity couple since dating rumors first began swirling, and the cute reactions keep coming since they got married in July at Madison Square Garden.

And now Swift is a meme, once again, after adorably shouting out her husband at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts game on September 20.

Keep ReadingShow less
George Michael during George Michael In Concert At The Arena - Amsterdam.
Greetsia Tent/WireImage

Planned VMAs Tribute To George Michael Called Out For Not Featuring Any LGBTQ+ Artists

It's been nearly 10 years since the world lost George Michael, but his music and influence have never really left us. Now, as the MTV VMAs prepare to honor the late music icon, fans already have plenty to say about the upcoming tribute.

From his early days with Wham! to his record-breaking solo career, Michael became one of the most influential pop stars of his generation, selling more than 100 million records worldwide. His success also earned him four MTV Video Music Awards, including the prestigious Video Vanguard Award in 1989.

Keep ReadingShow less
Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger
ABC

Capt. 'Sully' Sullenberger Opens Up About Alzheimer's Diagnosis In Poignant New Interview

Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger became an American hero on January 15, 2009. The "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot saved 155 passengers and crew aboard Flight 1549 when a bird strike disabled both engines after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport. He and first officer Jeff Skiles landed the plane on the Hudson River.

Throughout his life, Sullenberger has challenged himself to serve others. Now, in what he's calling his "last flight" as he deals with the symptoms of Alzheimer's, he's once again thinking about how to put what he's going through to good use.

Keep ReadingShow less
DJ Fievel Crane
@fievel42/Instagram

Trans Radio DJ Quits Live On Air After 'Most Traumatic Work Experience I’ve Ever Had' In Viral Video—And We're Applauding

Earlier this month, radio DJ Fievel Crane, former host of Morning Mixtape on 106.1 FM The Corner in Charlottesville, Virginia, announced their immediate resignation live on air.

They later shared a video of the moment on their Instagram, captioned:

Keep ReadingShow less