Just thought that you all might be interested in what we carry in and on our life vests when we do marine SAR around here. There's two small pockets, that's all.

- Strobe (Attached to vest)
- 4" Gerber Fixed-Blade Knife (attached to vest via lanyard)

Right Pocket
- Space Blanket
- Roll of flat duct tape
- 2 One Gallon Ziplock Bags

Left Pocket
- Waterpoof Match Case (in pocket)
- 2 Trioxane Tabs
- 1 Doan Firestarter
- 3 Flares
- 2 "AA' Lithium Batteries

That's it. In addition to that kit, I have a more extensive SAR/Recon pack that I use for various situtions, that's a more involved kit, basically, it's a "night alone in the woods" kit combined with a bit more stuff that I tend to use frequently on emergency scenes (like a waterpoof notepad, a space cell phone battery and so forth).

"The more things change, the more they remain the same." My gear list in 1976; 1st generation Mustang Float coat, authorized substitute for Kapok life preserver unchanged since WW2 ( and some smelly enough to be that old.) Battery powered strobe light pinned to same. Knife, ordered to " have a knife by monday" after reporting to MLB school, Columbia River L.B.S. Puukko from Alaska, later a Linder sailor's tool with marlinespike and lanyard hole. I used a length of paracord scrounged from a cargo chute for lanyard. Penflare in case with 6 flares. After actually making a friction fire for a party surviving a capsizing acquired a military match safe and filled with strike anywhere matches. 2 Icarus flares 'borrowed' for supplemental signalling. Saint Elmo medallion and whistle on dogtags.

I believe someone posted this link before here

http://www.watertribe.com/Magazine/ChallengeHowTo/Contents.aspx?ucPtr=WhenGodsPlay.ascx

but it is worth reposting. It primarily deals with hypothermia avoidance once wet from a sea kayakers point of view, but is applicable to anyone involved in maritime activities.

They do go into (in possibly another article) about how to attach a small backpack (hydration bladder?) to the back for more storage space.

Bill

Oh, and a whistle on a lanyard on the vest.