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Potomac Valley Search and Rescue Group |
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Teamwork, Excellence, Response, Professionalism, Safety |
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Potomac Valley Search and Rescue Group |
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Teamwork, Excellence, Response, Professionalism, Safety |
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Personal Gear |
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Disclaimer: PVRG does not recommend any particular brand name or manufacturer of equipment or retailer. Officers and members may have found brands that they have had success with, so feel free to ask us at a meeting. PVRG members are extended special discounts at local outdoor equipment stores, so be sure to check with us and receive a membership card before purchasing supplies for your 24 hour pack.
In order to go on weekend trainings and searches, PVRG members must put together a 24-hour pack, containing at the very least the following items. These are the basic tools and supplies you'll need to participate in a search for up to 24 hours without any other supplies. This pack should also be brought to weekly trainings, and kept in a location where it is always accessible and ready to go. (You'll find that your pack is not only useful at a search, but also handy around the house or in your car. Chances are if you really need something in a pinch, it will be in your pack.)
Keep the following guidelines in mind when putting your pack together:
Everybody should have access to a backpack of some sort or another. The average daypack/ school backpack will work for your 24 hour pack. If you need to use the pack during the week, you can put your search and rescue stuff in a plastic bag while you use your pack for books, then dump out the books and put the bag inside the pack when a search happens. This has the added benefit of keeping everything dry.
Your pack should be able to hold all of your gear, including any extra clothing layers you want to bring or have removed. It's better to get a pack that's slightly larger than one that is a little too small, but don't get one that is way too big. If you want to see how a 'real' backpack feels before you buy one, you can rent one from the ORC to take with you on a training mission or hike, just to get a feel of it. Also, from time to time current members will have old packs available, so check the Mailing List before buying a new pack.
Probably the best way to handle the problem of a new pack is just to use your school backpack for a little while, then go nuts and buy a nice hiking pack later. When you do, you will have all of your other gear for your 24-hour pack assembled, so you can just take your current pack into the store, dump it out, and load everything into the pack you're considering. If all the gear fits with a comfortable amount of extra space, then you will know that you're okay. This method gets tricky if you are testing a hydration pack, since in the store the reservoir is empty. This means you don't get as good a feel of the weight or the space that you have to work with.
A ballpark volume for a good, roomy pack that will take you to FTM and beyond is at least 2000 in3. If the pack has organizing and external pockets, though, then you will not need as much volume as a pack without them. To be certain, actually load up the pack to test it.
You typically get what you pay for when it comes to packs. The absolute cheapest dayhiking pack will be around $50 (?); nicer packs run at $100 or a lot more. Look for sales and special events, or ask current members for advice on how to get a good pack for cheap.
As with any physical activity, search and rescue operations will
cause you to sweat, (even in the winter) so you will need to drink. We
require you to carry at least 2 liters of water to ensure that you
don't get dehydrated.
There are several ways to accomplish this:
Polycarbonate 1-liter bottles cost between $5 and $8. 2-liter hydration systems run at least $20, and if you buy one you will pretty much need a pack that's compatible with them.
While hiking, climbing, thinking, and doing the things required in a search, you need to keep energy levels up, which means a constant intake of food. High energy foods like granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, jerky, crackers, etc. are good picks. You can also bring things like sandwiches or fresh fruit right before heading out. Don't bring food that has to be cooked or is overly bulky. (Cans of soup are a bad idea.) Some people keep their food in plastic bags to keep it dry and organized.
Simple, non-drawstring, big thick black trash bags are available at any grocery store, or around the house. Just about any kind will do, but the thicker ones are better. These bags serve a number of purposes in a search, including:
Zipper bags come in handy in many ways as well, including:
If you ever find a package of exactly five black garbage bags...
A box of 20 gallon-size Ziploc® bags costs $3 at the Commons Shop.
From time to time, you may be in need of first aid. Generally, this will involve a minor scratch or blister. For this purpose, you need to carry a first aid kit. Your kit will also be where you will keep a card indicating any medical conditions you have, who to contact in an emergency, etc. Keep your kit waterproof with plastic bag or case. You can either buy a kit, or make one containing bandaids, moleskin, ointments, painkillers, and any other items you might need. Be sure to bring any medications, inhalers, or personal hygiene items you need as well.
A nice store-bought first aid kit will run in the $20 range. If you assemble one yourself, the cost will vary greatly depending on what you choose to put in it and what you choose for a case.
These will be provided by the group, to put in your first aid kit.
We search both during the day and at night, so you will need a headlamp and a flashlight. Try to get those using AA batteries, as these are the most common used on searches. It's a good idea to buy lights that are waterproof and rugged, so if you drop them you won't be in the dark.
It's a good idea to keep at least one of these two items in a place that is easily found in the dark. If your flashlight and headlamp are at the bottom of your pack and you suddenly need them, you may have problems.
A headlamp is one of the few items most people do not have for their pack. However, they are extremely useful. They provide hands-free light, so you can use a compass or tie a knot without having to juggle a flashlight.
Just about any good flashlight will work. Keep in mind that those using D cells or lantern batteries will be heavier, and that you'll have to carry it during daytime searches as well. Replacement batteries will not be available unless you lug them along too.
A decent headlamp is going to cost you between $20 and $50, or even more.
A source of fire is one of the most useful things to have in the wilderness. A fire can be used for signaling, warmth, cooking, and light. As one of the lightest items in your pack, it's a good idea to bring along a spare source.
Matches are free, just go up to a convenience store clerk at checkout and ask for them (at the College Park shopping center, Wawa has them and CVS does not). A Bic disposable lighter is a couple of bucks.
A knife is a handy thing to have in the woods, there will be all sorts of times when you may need one, including firemaking, first aid, field repairs, etc. You don't need anything fancy, just about anything with a handle and a blade will work.
Avoid blades longer than 3.5 inches, anything this big constitutes a concealed weapon within the state of Maryland. A larger knife is not much more useful, and for some applications, may be less useful than the average sized pocket knife. When picking a knife, try to get one that is made of stainless steel, otherwise it may rust and will require constant attention. Make sure to keep your knife at a decent sharpness and oil any hinges as needed.
Knives with saws or serrated blades on them are very good ideas!! You may need to cut decent-size branches where a simple knife alone would be useless.
Using a map and compass is one of the most important skills in searching for lost people. You will need a magnetic compass, (NOT digital) with marks every 2 degrees. (Compasses with marks every 5 degrees are not accurate enough.) Get one with a clear base, a sighting arrow, and a rotating bezel. Handy (but not essential) options include a sighting mirror, ruler, map scale, adjustable declination ring, glow in the dark figures, and lanyard.
$10 and up
You will be needed to write down various pieces of data while on a search, including directions, descriptions of the missing person, and other notes. To do this, you will need something to write on, and something to write with.
A waterproof pen or mechanical pencil is the best choice, but permanent marker can also work.
Small waterproof notebooks are cheaper than $10 and last many searches.
Critical for signaling in fog, dark, emergencies, when radios fail, and over long distances, a whistle should always be kept close at hand. Do not use a whistle with a cork ball in it, it expands when wet, and becomes useless. Metal whistles will not work in cold weather. The average plastic whistle, kept on a clip or lanyard will work fine. It's a good idea to keep your whistle somewhere easily accessible, just in case. Many mount theirs on a ring on their backpack strap.
Less than $5.
While not required, you may choose to bring some of the following items: