EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
From the OSSA "Basic Search and Rescue Certification Course"  

The equipment, clothing, and food that each searcher is required to have is based upon experience and common sense.                         

Generally this equipment can be purchased in any number of places.  The biggest proportion of equipment and clothing that you will need can be purchased in surplus stores or second hand stores.  Be sure to mark all clothing and equipment with your name in the event that it is separated from you during a Search mission.
Two packs are recommended for search and rescue operations.  One is the 24-hour pack.  It is carried during a single day search operation but has sufficient clothing, food, and equipment to bivouac if necessary.  The required pack is the 48-hour pack.  It contains the 24-hour pack plus the remainder of the gear necessary to camp out.  The combination of the two packs should sustain you for a minimum of two days.  They are divided as follows and represent minimum requirements:

24-HOUR PACK  

             Compass
            Silva Ranger is but one example of a very good compass.  Tie the compass lanyard to your shirt or put it around your neck.

         Navigation Kit
             Pencils, note paper, 360 degree protractor ruler, UMS ruler, map and a weatherproof marking pen.

             Head Lamp or Standard Flashlight
            Put cardboard between the batteries to keep the light from going on accidentally inside the pack.

             Extra batteries and bulb

          Pocket Knife
          Carry it in your pocket with a lanyard tied to a belt loop.

            50 ft. of 500 lb nylon line (parachute line)

         1 roll of plastic grid ribbon (bright/fluorescent color)

         Water containers
            2 quarts. minimum, in hotter areas considerably more may be necessary if your search time is extended

              Food  --  Enough for 4 meals, no cooking required

             Toilet Paper -- Wrapped in plastic

             Wool stocking cap or balaclava / Extra wool shirt or sweater

          Fire Kit
          Candle stubs or fire starters, waterproof matches (dip wood matches in fingernail polish or wax).          

          EMERGENCY KIT

             Whistle, 4 safety pins, Single edge safety razor

            3 packages, 10 matches each, waterproof (emergency supply) matches

             2” candle stub (emergency fire starter)

             2 large, heavy duty garbage bags (emergency shelter)

             Emergency sun glasses

             Signal mirror (could use a compass mirror)

             Water treatment system

             FIRST AID KIT — Based on level of training

             Aspirin, 12 tablets

             Antacid (Rolaids/Tums)

             Tweezers

             Moleskin (for your blisters)

             Needle, medium

             Roller gauze

             Safety pins

             Waterproof tape

             Triangular bandage

             BandAids

             Antibacterial Soap

             Steripad gauze

             Elastic bandage

              Shelter

             9’ x 12’ mil polyethylene or 3 oz. nylon tarp.  Tarps are more popular than tents because of weight, cost, and versatility.

              Clothing

The following items would either be worn or carried in the 24-hour pack.
 In colder or wet climates, all clothing must be wool or with similar properties.

           Pants -- shirt                                          rain gear (rubberized nylon)

             jacket or sweater                                      gloves or mittens

             hat                                                           socks (two pair)

             long underwear (not cotton)

Clothing items carried in the pack should be inside waterproof bags. The 24-hour pack is the minimum equipment needed of any searcher.  A common error is for beginners to carry less than the listed equipment.  A search operation is no time for a person to slow down his team because of deficient equipment.  The 24-hour pack must contain enough gear to provide adequately for the searcher, to provide emergency bivouac capability, and still have enough left over to care for the lost subject or an injured team member.  This is considerably more equipment than carried by the average recreational hiker on a day hike.  The 24-hour pack is minimum gear for the field.  You are not to leave base with anything less; you are to never allow your pack to get separated from you while in the field.  In a search and rescue context, the 24-hour pack doesn’t contain a survival kit — it is a survival kit !

48-HOUR PACK     

             Total contents of your 24-hour pack  

          Sleeping bag
               Pack it inside a tough outer bag (protection from brush) and a plastic inner bag                   (protection from water)

             Shelter

             9’ x 12’ 5 mil Polyethylene or 3 oz. nylon tarp.  Tarps are more popular
                than tents because of weight, cost, and versatility.

              Insulating Sleeping Pad
           Closed cell foam, should be full-length in winter.

              Ground Cloth

              Mess Kit
            A spoon, metal cup, and pan are sufficient

              Extra clothing
                Wool socks, under-clothing (wrapped in plastic)

              Stove
            Small butane or white gas is usually best

              Extra Fuel

            Food
               Minimum for 3 hot meals

             CLOTHING
            You must use your judgment on the type and amount of clothing you will carry depending on conditions of the search area.  Some wilderness areas are                 likely to be very wet and cold.  Others may be quite hot.  If you are not properly clothed your service to the team will be limited.  The following are the                 recommended types.  For this reason, wool should be the basic outer clothing requirements for a search.

              Underclothing
              Wool, a blend of wool or polypropolene are good.  Silk undergarments also
              provide a good underlayer

             Pants
           Wool, military surplus is suggested

              Socks
          At least one and usually two pairs of wool or polypropolene socks should be worn during summer and winter.

             Shirts and Sweaters
              Light-weight wool shirts or sweaters are recommended for both summer and winter.  Several thin layers are                 preferable to one thick layer of clothing.  Light shirts and sweaters can be put on or off to regulate                       temperature     — this can’t be done with a single heavy garment.

              Jackets or Parkas
           Jackets should be light-weight and somewhat water-resistant.  A ski parka    makes a good   wind break and will keep you dry for a limited period of                 time.  A hood and long body    (extends well below the waist) are desirable.

            Raingear
          Rubberized nylon parka (with hood) and rain pants are extremely important.  Though sometimes expensive, the heavier (very rip resistant) rubberized                 suits will return their value to the wearer.  They make the difference between miserable suffering and relative comfort during long, wet searches.  A                 bright color is recommended.  Ponchos are not recommended in wooded and brushy areas. They don’t keep the legs dry, tend to blow in the wind,              often catch on brush, and are easy to step on when crouching down.  Ponchos have caused mountaineering accidents.

              Boots A good lug soled leather boot that covers the ankle is usually best.  Boots   should be treated with a good waterproofing that is compatible with             it’s tanning oil base or silicon.

              Gloves
           Leather gloves supply useful protection when going through thick brush or carrying a litter.  Wool gloves or mittens are a must in winter.  They are                 especially good under a wind and water-proof outer mitten.

             Hat Almost any hat or combination that covers the ears and protects from wind and rain is desirable.  A wool stocking cap under a rain parka hood is                 an example.  A hard hat gives protection from falling objects and adds an aspect of uniform appearance if worn by all team members.  Wool liners that                 provide warmth underneath a hard hat are available.

              Sleeping Bag
             Polyester type sleeping bags are the only kind recommended.  Sleeping bags with various polyester fillings provide insulation similar to wool and                 down.  These are known by  various trade names (polyguard, holofil, Quolofil, etc.).  They provide excellent heat retention even when wet.  Always                 carry your sleeping bag wrapped in plastic protected by a tough nylon or canvas bag.  Down filled bags are not recommended because they are                           totally useless when wet.  

             Note:  The sleeping bag should be rated to a minimum low temperature suitable to your area.