As a member of the Warrior Class, you have been entrusted with a certain amount of responsibility. If a crisis suddenly erupts, you shall be the one whom people will expect to heroically make things right once again. In order to meet these responsibilities, it is essential that you keep your shit wired tight. What does that mean? First, and foremost, it means that you need to remain calm, cool, and collected. If you’ve been drinkin’ or have only limited control over your emotions, this could prove very difficult to do. Secondly, you need to be fully equipped. If you lack the proper tool for the task at hand (or cannot readily find it), either you’ll need to improvise something right quick, or else you might find yourself uselessly standing around looking stupid (just like all the other "looky-loos"). If you want to be able to do your job quickly and efficiently, you’ll need to know where your tools are at all times . . . otherwise, you might find yourself running around, dumping out drawers full of stuff, and yelling "Where is it???"

FLASHLIGHT: The power has just gone out, leaving everyone in the dark. If you’re well equipped, you’ll have a "Mini-Mag-Lite" (or similar AA penlight) clipped to your belt or dropped in a pocket. If you are simply foresighted, you might have a AAA micro-lite, LED micro-lite, or "squeeze-lite" clipped to your keyring. Some people keep a small chemical lightstick handy for emergencies (just be sure to get a quality brand, like Cyalume, rather than the defective crap they sell in the supermarkets around Halloween). A cigarette lighter might work in an emergency, as long as it isn’t windy, raining, or too dangerous to spark an open flame (such as in the presence of volatile fumes, explosive dusts, or an abundance of combustibles). If you do not have an illumination source on your person, it is imperative that you know exactly where a flashlight is at all times (remember, you’ll be feeling around for it in the dark). It is important to always have at least one flashlight on each floor of your dwelling (or place of business), as well as in your vehicle. Be sure to test your flashlights at least twice a month, to ascertain that the batteries are fresh and the bulb is undamaged. An inoperable flashlight can prove to be worse than no flashlight at all.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER: Statistically speaking, you have a far greater chance of being killed in a structure (or vehicle) fire than being murdered by an assailant. Accordingly, a top quality (and fully charged) fire extinguisher should be readily accessible on every floor of your home (or place of business). The kitchen, laundry room, and garage should each be equipped with an additional unit. Compact halon fire extinguishers are good for securing within one’s vehicle (if you can still find one, as they’ve practically been legislated out of existence because they’re "bad for the environment"). Baking soda, sand, and ashes are all good for dousing flames. Garden hoses work great, as long as they’re not being directed at: grease, oil, gasoline, or electricity. Remember, fire prevention is one of your primary responsibilities. Regularly ascertain that unnecessary electrical appliances are left unplugged and potential fire hazards are eliminated. Routinely test smoke detectors and check the pressure level on all fire extinguisher units.

FIRST-AID KIT: People are suddenly injured through accidents frequently enough to warrant having a well stocked first-aid kit on hand in one’s home, garage, place of business, and each vehicle. At the bare minimum, an emergency first-aid kit should include: a tourniquet, a roll of gauze bandage, adhesive bandages of various sizes, and a packet of Motrin or Tylenol. In a garage or workshop, a bottle of saline eyewash should also be included. If anyone in your household (or workplace) has a potentially life-threatening medical condition (i.e.: high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, blood clotting, or severe allergies), it is important to always have an emergency dosage of medication on hand. A well-equipped medical kit will include: forceps, tweezers, needles, shears, butterfly bandages, a large bottle of saline (for irrigation of wounds), several antibiotic ointments (including icthammol), and a variety of over-the-counter medications to offset common ailments. If you are EMT certified, you may choose to include even more items (suture kits, tracheotomy kits, I.V. kits, scalpels, syringes, etc.). Always know where your first-aid kit is, and be prepared to improvise a tourniquet, splint, or pressure bandage if required.

GUN: Sometimes your martial arts skill, knives, and improvised weaponry just isn’t enough. What if you were suddenly faced with a rabid dog lunging at everyone in sight? Or what if you were faced with a maniac looped on PCP and swinging a machete? Or maybe some nutcase going through Prozac withdrawal decides to whip out an automatic pistol and start firing? (I won’t even touch upon the possibilities of home invasion, gang assaults, or mob violence for fear of being labeled "paranoid"). As much as certain old-fashioned fighters might hate to admit it, sometimes a gun is the only tool for the job. You can’t depend upon your trusty tee-ball bat and tactical folder to defend against an enraged bear or a demented motorist! Even if all you’ve got is a break-action shotgun or a black powder muzzleloader, at least it can enable you to instantly destroy a target from a moderate distance — and sometimes, that is exactly what you need to be able to do. Although having a fully-loaded combat sidearm accessible at all times brings great comfort to many, just having an old shotgun leaning inside one’s closet or having a functional replica musket hanging over one’s mantlepiece is really all you need for true piece of mind. A percussion-fired 10 gauge loaded with pennies can’t compare to a CAR-15, but it is far better than no gun at all. You should keep a gun in your home, even if it is stored unloaded and disassembled — someday, it may be necessary to use it.