Originally Posted by
rsqrott
What do you grab? This happened to me earlier this month during a business trip. In my sleep haze, once I realized that the noise was not actually my wake up alarm but a fire alarm the first thing I did was...put on a bra. I wasn't even fully awake. I left everything else behind and proceeded down the stairs. Thankfully everything was fine and we could all go back to our rooms. It occurred to me the next morning that I never even thought about passport, phone, etc. Just, "fire alarm...bra...get out". Foundation garment trumps survival instinct.
Many years ago I had that experience. Since then I've made it a habit when in hotels to sleep in something I could run in (and not be too embarrassed), and slip-on shoes are next to the bed. On the nightstand are my essentials - purse, phone, room key. Laptop bag is near the door.
Also, when I arrive and am heading toward my room, I check where the fire exits are. Trying to find one in the pitch dark of the 8th floor hallway, when I could hear the fire trucks arriving outside, is not an experience I care to repeat.