Office emergency kit: what to keep in your desk to get home safely
What to keep at work for an earthquake, power cut or a day when public transport stops: walking shoes, water, snacks, flashlight, power bank, medicine. Plus a plan for getting home on foot.
In short
- You spend a third of your day at work. If something happens then, your home kit can't help you.
- The office kit is for staying safe for a few hours and then getting home, possibly on foot.
- The essentials: comfortable shoes, water, a power bank, a flashlight, your medication and some cash.
- Do you know the walking route home? Try it once on a nice day.
We think of emergencies as something that happens at home, at night. But an earthquake, a major power cut or a blizzard can hit at 11 a.m. while you’re at the office, six miles from home, in dress shoes, with your phone at 20%. The subway has stopped, streets are jammed, and the kids need picking up from school.
An office kit isn’t a survival kit. It’s a drawer or a small bag with what you need to stay safe for a few hours and then get home.
The list
- Comfortable walking shoes, ideally sneakers, and socks
- Water: 1–2 half-liter bottles
- Snacks that won’t spoil: bars, nuts, crackers
- A charged power bank and phone cable
- A small flashlight or headlamp
- Your daily medication for 1–2 days
- Small first aid kit: bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic
- Cash: a few small bills and coins
- A light jacket or extra waterproof layer
- N95/FFP2 mask (for dust after an earthquake, or smoke)
- Whistle, to signal if you’re trapped
- Paper map of the city or your route home written down
- List of key phone numbers on paper
- Spare glasses, if you wear them
- Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
It all fits in a small backpack or a 10-liter bag, in a drawer or under your desk.
Your get-home plan
- Agree with your family what everyone does if phones don’t work: who picks up the kids, where you meet. Put it in your emergency plan.
- Learn your children’s school procedure: in some emergencies you shouldn’t go to collect them.
- Do you know the walking route? Note two routes, avoiding bridges and underpasses where possible. Walk it once.
- Pick a place to sleep if you can’t get home: a coworker, relatives, friends.
- Keep your car’s tank at least half full.
At work
- Know where the emergency exits, extinguishers and assembly point are.
- Know who your floor warden is.
- Take part in evacuation drills.
- In an earthquake: Drop, Cover, Hold On, then evacuate by the stairs. See what to do in an earthquake.
And in the car
If you commute by car, keep a kit there too. See our car emergency kit.
Frequently asked questions
How far can I walk home?
A healthy adult walks about 3 miles (4–5 km) an hour, so 10–12 miles (15–20 km) in an afternoon with breaks. If you live farther away, plan where you could spend the night: a coworker's place, relatives, or the office if it's safe.
What do I do in an earthquake at work?
Drop, cover under your desk and hold on. Don't run for the stairs while the shaking lasts and don't use the elevator. Once it stops, evacuate by the stairs following your building's emergency coordinator. Details in our earthquake guide.
Shouldn't my employer have a plan?
Yes. Employers generally have legal duties for emergency and fire safety: evacuation plans, drills, designated wardens, extinguishers. Ask who your floor warden is and where the assembly point is.
Sources and further reading
Preper is for general education and does not replace instructions from your local authorities or advice from a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.