Lifeline.
For over 16 months, the plastic box labeled "fire escape device" went mainly unnoticed. Occasionally, in the midst of reorganization, it would find itself a new home, but nothing more. The size of the box leaves little to the imagination; it is obviously rope, and works in concert with the eye hook on the wall next to the window. Beyond the basic concept, curiosity didn't strike until recently, when I decided I'd try to see how this device should work. It turns out to be quite a sophisticated and practical piece of engineering, but I have a hard time imagining any situation in which I'd shimmy out a ten story window with this device as my lifeline. In short, it's basically a strap attached to a reel; the strap should be installed around the torso, under the armpits. The reel slows the rope's feed by running it through a number of pulleys, thus allowing the victim to grab the rope and control his or her descent.
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