"Every Day Carry" neurosis: My rucksack is full of things that I hardly ever need but always want to have with me

Thomas Meyer

21.10.2020

Translation: machine translated

You can recognise them by their thick rucksacks, from which they conjure up this or that pack full of bandages or tools to make life easier for themselves and others: the EDC nerds. I am one of them.

Life is full of pitfalls: a shoelace breaks, the bike chain pops out, a lightning strike destroys all the electronic data at home, the escort gets her period earlier than expected, a screw has to be tightened somewhere, the child scrapes their knee or someone gets seriously injured. And then you're left looking stupid and can't do anything because you're not properly equipped.

Unless you're an EDC nerd - for "Every day carry". We EDC nerds always have everything we could possibly need with us. This subjunctive mood sets us apart from people who only carry things they actually need in everyday life - and then unsuccessfully try to stop an arterial haemorrhage with paper tissues because they don't have a tourniquet with them.

Admittedly, arterial haemorrhages are rather rare in peacetime. But they can happen, and as a former medic, I have the knowledge of how to deal with them and the necessary equipment. Incidentally, my EDC obsession also has its origins in the military: Back then, the equipment you had to carry "on man" at all times was called "bag order" and consisted of a biro, officer's knife, bandage cartridge and rubber gloves - a conglomerate whose usefulness convinced me so much that I adopted it "into civilian life" and expanded it more and more.

At first, my EDC kit was just a small first aid kit that I had to use from time to time; fortunately only for minor injuries, but you never know (the motto of EDC nerds). Over the years, numerous other things have been added - I now consistently leave the house with a rucksack, which I affectionately call "Rucki" and which contains several "packs" in addition to a torch, officer's knife, biros, notebook and disinfectant (always have, as an ex-Sani):

1st pack "Everyday life"

• 3 charging cables with Lightning, USB-C or micro USB connection
• SSD hard drive with complete music collection, complete photo collection and all work documents
• Also glasses cleaning cloths, lip balm, spare shoelaces and magnesium pen for making fires (you never know)

2nd pack of "tools"

• "Swiss Tools" screwdriver with bits
• Colouring chalk for the son
• Tools for fitting the bicycle chain
• Miscellaneous medication and tampons
• Guarana shots for social engagements after 8 pm
• Substitute lip balm

3rd pack "First aid small"

• Wound spray
• Bandage cartridge
• Patches
• Rubber gloves
• Tweezers

4th pack "First aid acute"

• Tourniquet (sling for clamping blood vessels)
• Pressure bandage
• Rescue blanket

5th pack "Hygiene"

• Toilet tissues
• Travel toothbrush set
• Additional disinfectant

EDC is not just equipment. It's an attitude that could be described as forward-looking realism: You realise that pretty much nothing will happen, but something could happen at any time. An old friend of mine is an emergency doctor and regularly works in air rescue. He once said: "You know, people leave the house in the morning thinking it's going to be a day like any other, and by the afternoon they're in the helicopter with me."

The EDC nerd doesn't have such a drastic daily routine. The adversity he has to deal with is hardly ever life-threatening. He is also not a "prepper" who prepares for a nuclear zombie apocalypse - that wouldn't be "every day". But thanks to his equipment, he can ensure that the loss of data, blood and nerves is minimised if necessary. He knows that he can help himself and others at any time. This knowledge has given me a feeling of comprehensive security that now even radiates to others: those around me know that my rucksack has a solution for many problems.

The only downside: when I go shopping, I can hardly fit anything in my rucksack, it's so bulky. But I wouldn't be a real EDC nerd if I didn't always have a folded shopping bag with me!

Are you an EDC nerd too? What do you always have with you? Write it in the comments!

Thomas Meyer

freier Autor

tacheles@thomasmeyer.ch

Author Thomas Meyer was born in Zurich in 1974. He worked as a copywriter before publishing his first novel «The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch» in 2012. He's a father of one, which gives him a great excuse to buy Lego. More about Thomas: www.thomasmeyer.ch.

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