by Stan Grimes

Created on: May 19, 2008   Last Updated: July 06, 2008

Most folks think of emergency preparedness in terms of saving extra food, blankets, water, emergency kits, and many more necessities. However, when I think of being prepared I think of only one item...the pocketknife.

Of course the commercial we all have seen on the television screen is the American Express commercial emphatically telling you "don't leave home without it." And, that may be true if you're heading to Paris, London, or New York, but I say don't leave home without your pocketknife.

My father always told me, "Stan, never leave home without a pocketknife." He also asked the important question, "why have a knife, if the blade is dull?" You may be thinking, "big deal." It really isn't a big deal until you need one. I have listed some simple uses for a pocketknife and by the way I prefer the Swiss Army knife because it carries several different utensils on it, and it fits handily on my key chain. Check out this list and see if you have ever been in any of these situations:

1. Your wife sees a wildflower along the road and wants you to gather a couple of stems.

2. You have a terrible cold and just bought a sealed pack of cold tablets, and you would like to open the package before you arrive back home.

3. You have a jagged fingernail and no file handy. It's driving you crazy.

4. You bought you doggy a bag of treats and he's drooling all over you and you would like to give him one before you drown in snot.

5. You can't get that darn pack of batteries open for your camera and the baby is not going to be smiling much longer.

6. You've been mugged and tied to the railroad tracks and you see a light coming toward you.

7. You can't seem to punch a hole in that gallon of windshield washer you just bought.

8. You can't seem to cut the alternator belt off.

9. You're at Home Depot and you want to cut some rope to tie down your plasterboard.

10. If only you could figure out some way to open that bottle of wine while on your picnic.

11. Of course the always favorite use. "How do I untie this hanky around my mother-in-law's mouth?"

There are thousands of uses for a pocketknife, especially a Swiss Army knife. They are inexpensive and stay sharp for a long time. You can fit them on your key chain and take them anywhere, except the airport. Seems like a simple solution and, well, a little overly pragmatic right? Believe me, though, once you have had one you will never want to "leave home without it."

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