A reporter’s emergency kit

By Leah Caudle
Special to chipsquinn.org

Posted: Feb. 27, 2008

Leah Caudle

I almost died the second day of my internship.

Well, not quite.

But at the time, I felt like I was near death. And to think: the experience could have been avoided with a little common sense and a few essentials.

No clouds offered shade on that hot summer day. I was given an assignment to go to a construction site and write about the effort to move a historic rock wall. With pen, notebook and keys in hand, I was ready to go.

I thought the interview with the contractor would last 30 minutes, tops. Once at the site, I realized I was overdressed. My black dress pants, pointy-toed shoes and blazer were instantly coated with brown dirt. Brushing off dust became a futile pastime while I waited for the contractor – for more than an hour.

Soon I started feeling dizzy. I skipped lunch because I didn’t want to risk missing some prime interviewing time. Come to think of it, I hadn’t drunk any water, either. The contractor pulled up and said he was sorry for being late.

But he wasn’t as sorry as I was for not having grabbed my water bottle before walking out the door.

I was in the beginning stage of severe dehydration. I couldn’t concentrate. My speech slurred and my writing hand was shaky. For support, I leaned on the very wall I was writing about. Black spots clouded my vision and I felt like I was crashing, fast.

I ended the interview abruptly. I stumbled back to my car and drove slowly to the nearest gas station.

My purchase: overpriced Wheat Thins and two large bottles of water.

After my painful and embarrassing experience, I now keep a few things in my car at all times and I urge all reporters to do so, too. These essentials are:

-- Water. No matter how much the water may boil in the summer sun, it’s always good to keep some spare liquid in case you get stuck in a dry situation.

-- Crackers. An empty stomach can slow thinking processes.

-- Tennis shoes. Trendy, pointy-toed flats are not footwear for all occasions. Throw some tennis shoes, socks, a T-shirt and a pair of jeans in the back of your car for those “roughing it” assignments.

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