This 2-in-1 Clock Meets Emergency Kit Could Save Your Life

We’d be hard-pressed to think of a more thoughtful two-in-one design than this clever clock-emergency kit combo from Seoul design firm SWNA. Fittingly named the Life Clock, the eye-catching timekeeper comes equipped with a set of tools that are specifically tailored for use in case of a natural disaster.

SWNA collaborated with Korea Gyeonggido Company (KGC) on the Life Clock as a way to encourage citizens to keep emergency kits in their homes, particularly because of the region’s history of natural disasters. The clock comes stocked with an aluminum heat blanket, a medical information card, compression bandages, a torch, a whistle and a book of safety information. The designers compiled the contents of the disaster preparedness kit based on the recommendations of emergency personnel and medical and disaster experts.

“Although several years ago a number of disasters, like Sewol disaster, Gyeongju earthquake, and Pohang earthquake have raised interest – most Koreans did not have disaster goods,” SWNA founder Sukwoo Lee told Dezeen. “We thought that it was important to recognize that disasters could happen to us and that it was important for disaster supplies to co-exist with our lives in everyday life rather than something special.”

Undoubtedly, the Life Clock’s convenient and conspicuous design is its most appealing quality. The multi-purpose device has reportedly been in high demand in the wake of a 5.4-magnitude quake that struck the North Gyeongsang Province in November.

“Survival kits should not be heavy. They also shouldn’t be neglected,” KGC CEO Kim Eun-ah told the Korean Herald. “They should be immediately visible when needed and should be easy to carry.”

Equal parts stylish and service-y, the Life Clock can be hung on a wall or perched on a flat surface and comes in red, blue and gray. It measures 8 x 8 inches wide and weighs a little more than two pounds. It’s currently priced at $39.