Handbag essentials

[TheGoatSaysHello]

I'd like to prep my handbag a bit in the event of being stuck somewhere with my DCs for a few hours. I live somewhere where there have been terrorist attacks and one scenario is having to hole up in a shopping mall, for example, for a few hours. Obviously this is highly unlikely but also not at all beyond the realms of possibility, sadly.
So - what things could I carry in my bag that might be useful? I already have spare phone charger and a small pack with plasters and painkillers, plus a mini Swiss Army knife.
Thanks for any suggestions!

[cloudtree]

I think there is a thread on this already if you scroll back through the preppers topic. It was near to the beginning when we were talking about quite diverse stuff.

[anniehm]

I carry plasters, antiseptic wipes, painkillers and tissues routinely, plus I have a power pack for my phone as the battery isn't good - nothing to do with prepping, just sensible. I carry an energy bar in my bag because I get woozy when I haven't eaten and often skip lunch, again just for normal life. Our car has water and blankets plus dog towels and hiking bars.

[elQuintoConyo]

Gun
Taser
Haribo
Cyanide pills
Colouring book & crayons
Travel-sized Battleships/Connect4/Noughts n Crosses
Book of sudokus
Lipstick & hairbrush
Spare tights
Bandages
Travel slippers (like you get on flights, hard-soled but flexible so they can fold up compact)
Photo of Val Kilmer in Top Gun
Big 'i told you so' neon sign
Keep Calm and Kill Zombies tote bag
String/rope
Big sheet of plastic

[Nomdejeur]

elquinto I think you left out passports under different aliases.

[WonderWoman2019]

*Photocopies of (photo) id
*Dextrose tablets/sports gel pouches
*Protein bars or small container pumpkin/sunflower seeds and nuts
*Collapsible (runners) water bottle - filled or not as you wish
*Paper list of key contacts in case mobile network taken down (land line systems more likely to remain)
*Rubber gloves in case you need to help strangers with blood
*One heat/survival foil blanket
*GPS tag on bag (so you can be found by partner etc in event of emergency)
*Nurofen Plus
*Tweezers and alcohol wipes (emergency cleaning up minor explosion debris)

These items should pack small and imho see you through most non-survival scenarios for a few hours. Best of luck!

[bellinisurge]

Op, that is what is known in prepper parlance as an Every Day Carry or EDC.
As always, focus on what works for you.
Some suggestions:
Access to sturdy shoes and socks- eg in your car or at your desk is a good idea. Or just wear them.
A foil blanket.
Hand gel.
A cereal bar.
Mints or similar to help with a dry throat if you can't carry water. Water if you can carry it.
Mini scissors.
Weirdly, dental floss is a good enough substitute for any rope or string you might need - Preppers call it "cordage".
Something to keep your head covered from rain - at this time of year, your coat probably has a hood .

Keep it light. Keep it multifunctional. If you rely on your phone, keep a charger - which adds weight.
Some change for a pay phone and learn how to use them if you don't know or need a refresher.
Offline list of phone numbers and emergency contacts.
Photo of your kids to cheer you up. Which most people have anyway.

[elQuintoConyo]

Pumpkin seeds 🤣 sure, if you're a hipster!

I forgot cuddly toy on my list.
Plastic cutlery (IKEA).
Lighter/matches.
Da Vinci Code - to throw at marauders or set light to for heat.
Blankie/other noo-noo for comfort in the face of the apocalypse.
Moon up.
Small vial of beach sand from your favourite holiday.

[elQuintoConyo]

Cup. Mooncup.

[bellinisurge]

Nice furrin swearing in a user name there.
If you thinking about being with your kids I think you focus on their needs. As long as you are warm and as dry as you can be - same for them.
You don't want to lug a load of unused stuff about in tbe off chance.
Recently, I have needed: sweeties, water; plasters; antiseptic wipes; tissues. That kind of thing which you probably already have.
Everyone gets a bit "hangry" so something to keep you all going is a good idea.

[Snugglepumpkin]

Cash.
Enough to buy a decent meal & get a cab home as an absolute minimum.
It's no good having a load of money in your account if the tills & ATMs are down because of a power cut, bank system mess-up or whatever (which has happened dozens of times to me) & they can't take cards.

[elQuintoConyo]

bellinisurge was that sarcasm?

If not, thanks aplenty

[TheGoatSaysHello]

Thank you everyone! Great suggestions.

[CMOTDibbler]

In my handbag I have plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister plasters, tissues, antibac gel, a very compact travel towel thing which could be used to apply pressure, change and paper money (tucked away in a zipped pocket), power pack and multi type cord (does iphone, micro usb etc), a paracord plait, cereal bar, throat sweets, haribo, paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines. Not a prepper thing, just I travel a lot and often get stuck for a periods in airports without my bags.
If I thought that I needed more of an escape bag, then I'd include the disposable ponchos (they live in the car anyway now), a water bottle and some long life water sachets, socks and fold shoes (if I tended to go out in non walking shoes), plus more reliable food.

[ElyElyOy]

Hair bobble, hat and gloves, antibacterial wipes, tissues, paracetamol, a pen, sanitary towels, cash, sunglasses (winter sun kills my eye make up), spare contact lenses, a snack, a book, lipsalve (although that’s more for comfort!).

Sod carrying shoes around: I’m wicked good at running in heels, unless there are stairs involved...

I have personal safety training as part of my job and they always recommended dark hat and gloves as being useful if you are hiding from someone, a bobble for tying long hair out of the way and potentially helping disguise the fact you are a woman, and as an aside they recommended we invest in a metal pen and aim for the eyes or between the legs

[TheGoatSaysHello]

Thank you!!!!!

[BiddyPop]

I keep a change bag in my car - mostly intended for parking meters, but it has proven extremely useful for vending machines at times as well (drinks, crisps, chocolate etc) when no actual shop is open/nearby. It goes in my handbag easily when going somewhere that change may be useful.

Mini swiss army, Ziploc bag (the size that a sleeve of tablets came in from chemist) with a pair of latex gloves, another Ziploc with a couple of bandaids and some antiseptic wipes - rubbish can go back into the Ziploc for binning, etc.

Pocket pack of tissues

Packet of mints, bar of chocolate.

Pen, mini notepad (I collect the ones from hotel rooms)

Charging cable, power bank if I think of it.

ID, credit cards, some cash

I have a card of emergency numbers - in case I need to use a public or someone else's phone.