Here is my latest SAR kit... it's been a while since i've posted an update, and I had an hour to kill so here it is.

Not shown : rappelling rope, team-issued radio, other clothing (such as a wool hat, down vest)

Shown under the stove : Evazote bum pad (closed-cell foam)




(1) Osprey Stratos 32
(2) Ziploc baggies + paper bags (to collect evidence)
(3) Radio pouch
(4) Accessory straps
(5) Safety hat (w/Petzl Tikka XP, not shown)
(6) Reminder card (bring fresh water, cell phone, etc.)
(7) Utility pouch 1/2 (signal mirror, Heatsheet, XL orange garbage bag, MP1 tablets)
(8) Utility pouch 2/2 (duct tape, cord, whistle, zipties, candle, Sparklite, pencil, keychain compass/thermometer, Bic lighter, matches, safety pins...)
(9) Hygiene kit (TP, sanitizer, toothbrush, earplugs, mirror, wipes, towel in silnylon bag
(10) GMRS radio + mic, spare AAs
(11) Survivor buff (bandana)
(12) Ironclad gloves
(13) Silnylon tarp, prefitted with ridgeline, prussiks, etc...
(14) Climbing carabiner
(15) Sighting compass + whistle on length-adjustable neck cord
(16) Bahco Laplander saw
(17) SOG Flash II
(18) Short gaiters
(19) Spare merino wool socks
(20) 100 oz hydration reservoir
(21) Bic lighter and mini LED lamp on ID necklace
(22) Maxpedition H-1 pouch with Legend HCx GPS attached
(23) Personal FAK
(24) Windscreen, foil, paper towel, ustensils
(25) Hot chocolate pouches in Ziploc baggie
(26) Food
(27) Flagging tape
(28) Rite-in-the-rain pad + Space pen
(29) MSR Windpro stove + canister
(30) GSI hard anodized cookset

Voilà! Comments or questions are welcome.

Obviously you have been/are around law enforcement. Very few folks know about the paper bags and why.

Looks to me like you've done this at least once.
Only a few questions: More food? PLB? I assume you also have an assigned radio from your department. A GOOD strobe and or a smoke signal?

You mentioned repel rope, but where are the other climbing gear than? I only saw one carabiner. Also the helmet shown, doesn't look like it's mend for climbing.

Maybe a extra emergency blanket/bivy in case you got caught in bad weather with the victim.

The rest looks good. Maybe ad a PLB?

Unless you're conveying information that's color coded, why carry blue and yellow flagging? In my experience, fluorescent pink and, to a lesser extent, fluorescent orange have the highest visibility in most environments.

Always bring an extra paperbag for the guy who's never seen "wet evidence" to hyperventilate into.

desperado, is there nay other reason for the paper bag other then unclegoo's reason??

Fluorescent pink and orange are also extremely common in the woods - maybe he uses blue and yellow just to differentiate his marks from others that came before him? fwiw I sometimes carry red with a black stripe flagging into the woods but have never had cause to use it.

Seems like a time-tested kit to me. I like the reminder card, fresh water and cell phone, I need to deploy that on my go bag for disaster assessment callouts.

"Wet" evidence needs to have airflow around it or it can be compromised further than it would by normal organic reactions. I was taught that most all evidence goes into paper bags at a violent crime scene or unattended death.

Kinda like you don't want to store your wet gear in a plastic bag. There is nothing worse than wet or burned evidence anyway. You don't want to compromise it after having had to deal with it.

I don't know where my surveyors got it, but we use a orange/silver reflective tape. It is nice in the dark because when hit with a flashlight it really stands out. Something to consider.

I'm curious, how do you attach the Bic lighter to your ID necklace?

soldering gun?

Back in my SAR days, the woods often had many orange and pink flagging tape streamers from hikers and loggers, We always carried off color flagging tape so we could easily tell which tape was ours.

@Desperado : in my specific situation, purchasing a PLB doesn't make a lot of sense. Being a SAR volunteer, I weighted the pros and cons of such a purchase and quickly came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it. A PLB would stay in the closet 98 % of the time (we don't get called out THAT often). We usually search in teams (6+ persons), everyone has a GPS/compass and the corresponding skills to use them, we have radios, cell phones, spare batteries, headlamps... You know what? The command post knows which area we are supposed to be searching in, and we don't check out after a given period of time, they would start looking for us. No need to activate a PLB really... regroup, build a nice fire, chat and just wait it out until the morning comes. Nothing risky there. I'd even make it a fire building exercice! I'm far from saying that PLBs are useless, i'm just saying that in my situation, it isn't the best investment.

As for food, it probably wouldn't hurt to add some stuff. You know, since i've never used my stove/cookset on a search... The thought of taking it out of my kit has crossed my mind. I will typically snack on CLIF bars and peanuts throughout the day and when it's over, we'll debrief informally in front of a good meal in a nearby restaurant.

A smoke signal could be nice. I wonder if they're expensive? Do they have an expiry date? Typically though, to give our your position, you can use radio communications and GPS/maps. You can build a fire, use a signal mirror, wave flashlights...

@PC2K : Good catch. Rest of climbing equipment is in our support trailer.

@yelp : Exactly what SBRaider (and others) said. We carry different colors because it is not uncommon to come across pieces of tape used by surveyors or owners in privately owned forests. For example, if we see a lot of orange or pink, we will use blue or yellow. Simple as that. It's not a question of visibility.

@Lono : Take a small ziptie and pull it tight to form a small loop. Then, simply glue the square (edge) part to the bottom of a regular-size Bic with Locktite glue. I can post a close-up picture if you want.

Aha, Locktite - I have a tube of that, I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Like the reminder card.

Whats the total weight?

What the cubic inches and weight of the pack alone? I need
a new one.

I am Hypoglycemic so I always lean toward food. One thing with the pyrotechnics, be careful. Signal fire good, forest fire bad. (But you already know that.)

I previously had some issue M18 smoke and there was no date on them. All the SOLAS type stuff is dated I think. I really like the ACR strobe that replaced my old military standby. I don't remember the model of the old one, but the batteries were proprietary so it was time for it to go. The SF and SEAL guys I met had a shoulder pocket sewn to the old BDU uniform for this light. Now the new uniforms have shoulder pockets. I cannot imagine being back in the army and not having one with me.

Kinda pricey though.

Good kit, was I right about LEO experience? How close to Montreal? We may come back that way during warm weather if vacation planning allows.

Are you referring to this stuff?

Yep, that's it.

We were taught to place the date, time and initials on the tape, if it was being used to mark a finding.

Pete

We were also. I spent a lot of time in the woods in your area with SMRG and ASRC

Obviously you're an experienced pro, so not much to add.

I do like those buffs. I tried one last year and I'm sold.

I'm curious about having SAR folks doing actual evidence collection at likely crime scenes. You know what you're doing, but usually that's an LEO or tech's job. Are you cross trained? Is the whole team?

The little AA sized ACR C Light is under $10 and does as a passable cheap 360 degree substitute for a real strobe. It's on my extra life vests. My Fenix AA light set to strobe with either the white or red diffuser wand has impressed me as a real attention-getter, too. I use it as a mini traffic wand daily.

That day/night flagging tape is a real find for me. (disaster medical team safety officer)

Thank you for your service.

Jeff,

Someone else asked about this and I PM'd the following:

Don't worry about collecting evidence. If you are helping on a SAR let the pros do it. It has been since 1995 that I could call myself a "pro". When I go help on SAR (mostly Alzheimer's folks), if I find a need for evidence collection I mark the area for scene protection and call for help. There are tons of issues about "chain-of-custody" and evidence contamination that can really screw up a criminal case. You don't want to mean well and find out it cost a piece of evidence to be inadmissible in a court of law.

Is that along the lines you were thinking of?

Called my surveyor. You will never believe where he found it originally . . . Lowe's Home Improvement in the same area with chalk lines, marking flags and other marking tape. Here I have been "procuring" it from him, he buys it at Lowe's and I am in there at least three times a week and walk right past it.

At my store it is near the contractor checkout on an end cap to the tool isle.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking about. It seemed like a waste to have valuable SAR resources tied up with too many additional tasks, training requirements, etc. unless your team was already composed of police officers. I don't recall ever working with a police department-based SAR team, so I was just curious and being nosey. My brother worked for a combined PD/FD and there aren't too many of those around, either.

I really admire you SAR folks, so often going out in the worst terrain and weather at the drop of a hat to help others, usually as unpaid volunteers.

I've been around the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue, e.g., earthquake-collapsed structures) folks some. I'm thinking of maybe getting into a SAR dog program when I retire from being a paramedic/firefighter.

Are you serious? Dang it… I ordered some of that online about two months ago. I’ll remember to just go to Lowe’s next time I need a refill.

Doh! Thanks!

Uh, I really wouldn't call my part SAR I am more of unskilled labor that knows how to walk thru the weeds. but thanks . . .

As someone who was previously in pretty fair shape in the past (emphasis on the past tense), you might want to add a few miles a day to the sprinting (not jogging). That dog will work you to death in a urban setting. Be ready to start out as unskilled labor and work up to the team allowing you and a dog in. At least that is what I have always heard is the case.

Much Luck

When we uncover a clue possibly related to the case we're working on, the team leader will report it to the command post (CP) and they will tell us what to do with it. We won't report 20-year old rusted beer cans but we will report anything of interest really. Even a cigarette butt can be an important item depending on the situation. If CP requests that we collect the item, we will pick it up with gloves, pack it up properly and take it back to the CP for further examination. If not, we'll ignore and keep going.

If for any reason the CP is temporarily unreachable using radios or even cell phones (can happen in extremely rugged terrain, valleys, etc.), the team leader will decide what to do with such findings.

If we really come upon a crime scene, the whole team knows what to do. We are trained accordingly by provincial police in line with the "provincial volunteer search and rescue program". For example, we will attempt to protect a crime scene from the elements in bad weather by deploying a tarp. That's just one example. I'm telling you... we really are what they call "unpaid professionals".

@Jeff_McCann: Thank you my friend. Most searches take place in the worst pouring rains or snow storms. Why? Because in these situations it becomes even more urgent to find a missing person (hypothermia becoming a real threat).

Nice Kit..

- One thing I do to save on weight is keep 2 bag's in the trunk. One with my normal kit that has the basics and a support kit that has all the extras. Generally our sar missions don't get us more then 1 / 2 miles from a road. But I've had missions go extended times. Or dunk myself in water.

- On the evidence, its good to be prepared to handle it. You never know when the tech's will say to handle it since they aren't walking the mile back into the woods to pick it up. With us, our big concern is scent collection for the K9 Unit. So some of our support people carry scent collection kits. Which are basically modified / basic evidence kits plus some sterile gauze and even more ziplocs.

just my .02. I'll post my kit one of these days.

Darn good words that! First SAR was in December in Northern Oklahoma inside city limits (very small town). I was home for Christmas leave and was on a ride along with a buddy from the PD. PD gave me a radio and I was using the POV. One slip on an asphalt rode edge and I was swimming in BDU's and boots. Since my POV had been sitting for months guess what didn't want to start when I got out of the water. Did I mention the radio was decidedly not waterproof. Next morning we found out the Alzheimer's patient was less than 25 yards from where I fell in. She survived in her gown and the thickest robe I have ever seen. If she was there when I went in I wish she could have loaned me the robe. It was three miles home on foot in wet clothes.

I carry Printed Paper Evidence Bags at work to collect evidence at forest fire crime scenes. You cannot package any evidence for petroleum accelerant testing in plastic bags as plastic is also produced from oil and will contaminate your sample.

Special clean metal cans, jars and paper boxes are also used but I do not carry them in my Patrol Pack as they are too bulky.

Mike

You could always attach your Bic to your ID Necklace with a Lighter Leash end cap? I have seen these for sale on gas station counters for about $3.00.

Mike

I think the saw could be upgraded to a professional quality saw. I have a Silky SUPER ACCEL 210 Large Teeth saw that will cut through wood like butter. This is the saw of choice for professional tree workers. Make sure the wet wipes are unscented so you don't attract bugs or large animals looking for food. They make an outdoors wipe just for the woods. You could lighten up a bit by going Titanium with your cookware and windscreen. Lose the trowl and use your new titanium spoon. Hot chocolate is nice but I suggest you carry some electrolyte powder. Good for extreme conditions and if you have diarrhea. I don't know whats in your first aid kit but some QuikClot Sport for bleeding would be a smart choice and some antibiotics wouldn't hurt any. My first aid kit has many extras and is a topic in itself. PC2K is right about a bivy. You have a heat sheet but you may want to upgrade to a Medical Adventures Thermo-Lite 2 Bivy Sack. A little more weight but if you shake down else where it evens out. Where is your bug wipes, sunscreen, and sunglasses? A LED headlamp comes in handy when you need to use your hands. I have a Princton Tec EOS tactical and it serves as a strobe for signaling. Some 550 para cord would be good for many uses. If you want to spend a bit more then get some New England Tech Cord 5mm x 25 meter which can be used for emergency rappelling. Here is a link for the entire system. http://www.uscav.com/milmall/Productinfo.aspx?productid=7342&TabID=1&CatID=841
And maybe a nysil pack cover or a poncho to protect everything. Depending on the season, I would pack a set of base layer clothing in a ziplock. Check out Eddie Bauer Cocona 365. Compact, lightweight, dries fast, and machine washable. If you fall in some ice cold water you will be glad you have them to change into. Some hand warmer packets work pretty well and could be used inside your bivy for a warmth boost(you can always use your water bottle with some boiled water for that too). I would also replace the granola bars with a Mainstay Food Package. You can go wrong with any dehydrated food as I see you have a Mountain House. Kudos. Some good fishing line and a few hooks might be a good idea. I would also replace your Bic with a Brunton Helios lighter. I have had many Bics fail by melting when trying to light something stubborn. But at first glance, other than what I have mentioned it looks good.