I am going to be joing my local Fire Dept. SAR team in a few months and was wondering if ya'll had any ideas on what I need to include in my SAR kit. Staarting from scratch, dont know if they supply anything, lets say I have to supply every thing.

Thanks
goat

When you join you should get a manual which includes a list of what you're expected to have gear wise (based on my personal experience only)...it's a great place to start. Then from that list you can modify or expand as needed for your own gear.

Do a search of the Forum.

Go to the Advanced section and enter SAR* in the box
Change the date range from Newer than 1 year
and Older than 1 day.

This will give you bunch of Forum posts dealing with subject.

A couple of the guyson here have great SAR Packs they have assembled. They have posted the contents list, and sometimes pictures, of their gear.

The search will save you a ton of time.

Happy scrounging....

PMing you

Each area will have there own kit reccomendations.

The team I'm on has a "required" list

http://www.kentcountysar.org/gear.php

many teams though have just reccomended equipment. about a week or less ago someone on here posted a very very nice review of what was in their pack.

I keep 2 packs a Search Pack and a support pack

My Search pack weigh's in at about 20-25#. My search pack is loaded with the basics. Basic survival and first aid for both Victim and I. Along with Water and other important things.

My support pack has everything else. When I get on scene and can figure out exactly what is needed I move contents around and add or take things out of my Search pack. This way I can keep my pack light yet still have plenty of gear back at the base to use as needed. IE get back and I'm soaked I have dry cloths. One of these days I'll empty it all out and take some pictures.

Hope this helps

That won't work. The search function only works if you type more than 3 letters. Try 'SAR-kit'.

Or even better..Copy Hacksaw's SAR-kit and adjust to your specific needs.

Here is one more resource:

How To Pack For SAR


Pete

Search google for 24 hour pack -- its what SAR teams commonly use.
( also 72 hour pack.)

Winter ski SAR, click on the "Gear List" link.

http://www.tahoenordicsar.com/Training/training.php

This is for a hasty team primarily chasing down out of bound's
skiers and lost snomobilers, so is pretty minimal. Too heavy
a pack and you get left behind or can't make turns in the cement. List made up by an ER Doc and former back country ranger.

Group gear taken depending on search.
Snowshoes for lost folks
Two piece cascade sled
Pyramid tarp
Clinometer

I was hoping to attach my SAR kit checklist, but it doesn't look like we can attach PDF files.

Unfortunately, I can't. It's a checklist (combo of required and supplemental gear) I created and stored on my PC. I might be able to find a free site that hosts PDF files and then be able to provide a hyperlink tonight.

MtnRescue
Check your PM, and greatings from a old SMRG member!
Stu

Start with the NASAR 24 hour pack list (run a search on the net). It's a good starting point, but upgrade the FAK! Good luck!

That reminds me, is there some alternate first aid/survival use for antacid tablets? The NASAR lists only two meds on thier basic list and one of them is antacid. Not my highest priority unless Ironraven is on your team and you overeat all the good food he talks about cooking.

Then I saw it twice on this list that paramedicpete linked to:
http://www.1srg.org/Contributed-Materials/PackLists/Walter.htm#EquipmentList
once as "antacid" and then again as "Pepto Bismol".

Am I missing something of have they added lots of garlic to the MRE's in recent years? Is SAR that hard on your digestion?

A lot of the gear in SAR kit is also for the person you might find, not always the person doing the searching. If you find somebody who hasn't eaten in days and you feed them...they could get bad stomach acid issues.

You never know when and where you will be called and when and what your last meal was

Lets see if this works:
Winter SAR Kit

The checklist remains the same throughout the year except replacing the cold weather clothing for clothing more appropriate for warmer weather.

Nice to have your SAR team helping out with the recent West Virginia search. Did you make it out? We have one of your ropes and bags that somehow followed us home. We'll get in the mail/UPS/FedEx ASAP.

Ian

+1 on the pepto / antacid pills. Our team had 40 requests for service last year. With that many calls you just never know what your going to run into. I've handed Ati-Poo Pills, Pepto and Aspirin out to fellow team members who forgot theirs or just didnt have it. Its always worth having personal med's on hand just incase.

When I teach SAR classes to people one of the biggest things I tell them is if your not comfortable your not searching. So if you spend more time thinking about your tummy ache or the fact you got the poo and your in the wood's away from the potty. Its nice to be able to make yourself feel better.

Also Make sure to add TP to your kit and put it in a ziplock bag to keep it dry!

Ian,
I'm unable to open your Winter SAR Kit link.
Bummer
Stu

Stu,

I had saved it to a Yahoo Briefcase account, but it isn't working as I hoped. I'll find another free PDF hosting site. This is one of the inconveniences spurring me to build my own website.

If you are looking for an easy way to share files etc for now, try Google Page Creator They allow up to 100 MB of web page and file storage for free. I use it often on other forums for sharing files, including pdf's.

[quote=MtnRescue]Stu,

I had saved it to a Yahoo Briefcase account, but it isn't working as I hoped. I'll find another free PDF hosting site. This is one of the inconveniences spurring me to build my own website.
[quote]

If it makes it easier, you can copy and paste from a pdf file to here in a reply window. If you need help, just PM me and I can post it for you.

If its in a table structure, it might be a little more difficult.

Kris

Lets try this again:


Winter SAR Kit