24 Hour Pack

In addition to the clothing that you wear you are also going to need to bring equipment that can help

you in a pinch. The 24-hour pack is inteded for the short haul or quick duty. These are the

necessities for the job at hand. This load is set up for one day, including the possibility of an

overnight stay, but this does not mean to over pack. The 24-hour pack should be replenished from

the 72-hour pack at the end of each day if in the field for an extended period. It is recommended

that you establish a checklist of equipment carried on your search load so that you know what

needs to be replenished or if you have lost anything (a form has been provided as attachment A).

The 24-hour pack should have the following items:

Storage System: Most people use either the military LBE (Load Bearing Equipment), Aircrew

Survival Vests, small backpacks or civilian rescue vest options. You will need to carry many things,

as you can see the list goes on for several paragraphs, but it needs to be comfortable for you. You

need to arrange and wear your gear so that you can wear it for long periods of time, and not have

any major complaints. Your instructors should check all of your gear to make sure that you are

wearing it properly and will also make suggestions for changes. This kind of equipment has been in

use for years, and if worn properly, you should not have any problems. Remember though, that it is

your own fault if your equipment is uncomfortable, and nobody wants to hear your complaints when

you don’t listen to their advice.

1 day of food: This should be food packaged for the long term so that it will last such as smaller

canned goods or broken up MREs. MREs are ideal since they are high calorie and now have

alternate and quicker means of heating. MREs or freeze dried foods are also much lighter than the

typical canned foods, and leave less to be packed out of the wilderness. By carrying these lighter

foods, you can also carry more, that way if you have that extended stay or rescue a starving

survivor, you have the food to survive. In addition to MRE's, snack foods like "GORP" (Raisins,

peanuts and M&MÔ candies), athletic food bars (Cliff Bars, Power Bars, etc.) or granola bars, dried

fruits and meats from your local grocery store, and other foods are excellent. You can pack some

instant oatmeal for breakfast, beef jerky or salami for lunches, and perhaps an MRE for dinner.

Minimum of 2 quarts of water: The average person should drink much more than this per day in

summer or winter, but 2 quarts normally sustains a person long enough to get replenished or find

another source. If you know that you are heading into an area that there is no place to replenish

you water supply, you may want to consider bringing more.

Personal survival equipment: Your survival should be your top priority. If you get stuck overnight

because storm rolls in at the last minute, or you have to stay with a survivor overnight, then you will

need to be prepared. God forbid you get separated from the team and need to use this equipment.

The following is what most people carry to guarantee their own survival.

Waterproof matches and other fire starting materials: Magnesium striker bars, dryer lint in a

Ziploc bag, paper, or any of your typical dry materials can easily be carried to start a fire

when you must. Remember though, that a fire is not necessary for your survival, but it

does make it much more comfortable, so plan for it. Nobody likes to be uncomfortable.

Also, dryer lint needs to be from natural fabrics to be effective. Synthetic lint doesn't really

burn well; it melts (and smells bad).

A few square feet of heavy duty aluminum foil: Aluminum foil can be used for several things

such as packaging left over food or helping to heat food over a fire.

Assorted Fish hooks, line, and split shot: Fish are often easy to catch, and considering the

weight of these items for the benefits derived, it is a wise idea to bring them. Also,

consider trying to make a fish hook in the field. It may keep you busy, but it will normally

keep you hungry rather than nourished.

Assorted types and sizes of flexible adhesive bandages: It is very easy to cut yourself on

briars or tree limbs or other things that you might find out in the wilderness. Bring the

bandages along so that you can clean the wound and protect yourself from getting an

infection. It is also recommended that personnel carry povidone-iodine pads to use as an

antiseptic to clean out wounds.

Small sewing kit: Strong thread, assorted needles, and safety pins, and replacement

buttons for uniform items can help you stay neat and protect yourself. If your clothes begin

to fall apart then they are doing nothing to protect you. It helps to lead off problems at the

pass. You can wrap a few sewing needles with thread and keep them in your match case.

Also, safety pins can be removed from your first aid kit, and buttons can be salvaged from

less critical areas if necessary.

Signal Mirror: A signal mirror can often help you get an aircrew's attention and can also

help you locally. A mirror can help you take care of cuts that you may have to your face or

in starting a fire. Glass mirrors are easily broken though. If you own a glass signal mirror

already, don’t throw it away, but make sure that it is packed so that it does not get

damaged before you get a chance to use it. Glass signal mirrors are more effective than

metal ones - they stay shiny since hey don't scratch. This is the reason that military signal

mirrors are glass. But remember, any shiny object will do in an emergency, including

pieces of a broken mirror.

50 to 100 feet of paracord: Paracord also has many uses. It can be used to tie branches

together to make a shelter or hang food out of the reach of small woodland creatures for

example. Paracord tend to be like gold to ground teams, so keep track of it so that it does

not disappear. If you don’t have it when you need it you will not be very happy. You need

not have one long piece of paracord - you will probably end up cutting it anyway, so several

pieces are perfectly OK.

2 Large Lawn & Leaf Trash Bags: Trash bags have great uses in survival situations also.

They can be used to help protect you from the weather, on your pack, or as part of your

shelter. Packing a couple of small plastic bags for storing whatever you might want to

keep dry is also advisable.

Water Purification Tablets: Water is essential to your survival, but there is nor reason why

you should get sick from drinking it. Bacteria and algae often carry sickness, and both are

often found in free standing water and even in running water. Tablets should be iodine

based (military surplus or Potable Aqua Ô brand), or Iodine crystals (Polarpure Ô). Filters

certified by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) are also acceptable. Chlorine tablets

(halazone) should not be used. Iodine tablets should be gunmetal gray in color, if they turn

rusty brown they have lost their effectiveness. Keep tablets sealed in their bottles until use,

and keep them dry.

Personal first aid and hygiene kit: In addition to what is in your personal survival kit it would be a

wise idea to carry extra items to make you more comfortable and healthy in the field. The following

items are recommended:

1. Sterile gauze pads (4" x 4") and roller bandages (3" wide)

2. Two triangular bandages

3. Aspirin, Acetaminophen (Tylenol Ô) or other analgesic

4. Antibiotic Ointment

5. Medical Tape, 1" wide, partial roll. Recommend waterproof tape or athletic tape

6. Povidone-Iodine (Betadine Ô) Prep Pads

7. Travel Razor (Not Electric)

8. Soap - small hotel sized bar, in a plastic bag. Liquid soap in a small squeeze bottle is

also good, but pick one that is not irritating if not rinsed well.

9. Travel Toothbrush and Tooth Paste

10. Tweezers, for splinters - fine sharp points

11. Nail Clippers & File Combination

12. Special or Personal Medication

13. Spare undergarments

Poncho and/or rain gear: Make sure holes are patched before returning to the field if they occur.

Military rip-stop ponchos are recommended for summer use and Goretex rain gear for use in all

other seasons. Ponchos are easily repaired with Duct Tape and can be used for other things like

quick shelters in the summer or helping winter shelters, but remember that as, a poncho is not the

ideal year round solution to weather problems, it is a good supplement.

Compass: Get one that you are comfortable using in both day and night. Some members prefer

using a military lensatic compass or an orienteering compass, there are many compasses oriented

towards what we do. Don’t forget that this compass will need to be used for not only simple

orienteering exercises, but also map work and should come with a straight edge and easily convert

for declination.

Store this compass in a location that it will not be affected by magnetic objects like a knife and

where it will not get easily lost. Evaluators often see people carrying a compass in a compass

pouch on their suspenders upside down so that the pocket can easily be opened and drop the

compass out. This is great, but if you don’t have you compass on a lanyard then that same

compass could fall out on the trail and you must purchase a new one. Stow your equipment so that

you have it when you need it.

Flashlight with red lens, extra batteries and an extra bulb: We recommend using a mini-mag

flashlight or equivalent with the red lens attachment. These tend to be more durable than the

standard military anglehead flashlight, but both work. Whatever flashlight you use, we recommend

that you use Krypton bulbs in your flashlight since they tend to be much brighter than the bulbs that

come with the flashlight from the factory. Finally, remember that the red lens is not an option, but a

requirement. Humans are not like other animals that have permanent night vision. When exposed

to white light, the typical person loses their night vision for about 30 minutes. Using a red lens

allows you to keep your vision, and even if coming from white light it assists your eyes to recovery

from your night blindness. The only exception to this rule should be medical personnel evaluating or

treating patients. White light may be necessary to accomplish an accurate patient assessment.

Non-essential team members should protect their night vision in case they are needed to lead the

team out.

Where do you keep your flashlight? Most personnel keep their anglehead flashlight on their

suspenders. This is a good place for it, but you need to make sure that it is secured. If you end up

doing any climbing are heavy work with your gear, you might lose your flashlight or get smacked in

the jaw by it because it was not secured properly. Use a blousing band or tape to keep an

anglehead flashlight from moving around if you want to keep it on your suspenders. Another

question should be asked though. How often do we enter into situations where darkness just

occurs? You can keep your flashlight and batteries stowed in your butt pack or a cargo pouch out

of the way. You will still know where they are, and you don’t run as much risk of getting hurt or

losing your flashlight. Always have a spare bulb and spare batteries for your flashlights.

In addition to using a flashlight, many people find that using headlamps is superior to using

flashlights. Headlamps leave both hands free, and are always pointing in the right direction. Think

when wearing a head lamp though. Either turn it off, shade the light, or don't look directly at a

person you're talking to so that they are not blinded. Like any flashlight, you should have spare

bulbs and batteries for your headlamp. Some models can take two different types of batteries.

Lithium batteries are excellent for cold temperatures and have a long shelf life. Some headlamps

can also accept different sized batteries, for instance AA or C cells. Headlamps that have a battery

compartment worn on your belt are not as useful for most rescuers because the wire is either too

short or gets snagged.

Orange reflective vest: We are not doing a job where we need to be camouflaged or covert about

our tasks. Being visible helps team members see each other from greater distances, as well as

making sure that hunters do not shoot at you. Your vest can be substituted by a Bashaw or

equivalent rescue vest that is already blaze orange and reflective, but it may be a wise idea to bring

a separate small vest in case someone else does not have one, or to mark a hazard area at the

scene. By the way, regulations require the wear of orange vests when performing field operations in

BDUs.

Pocket knife: Swiss army type knives or Leatherman tools are recommended because of the

multiple functions and obvious advantages. Try to get a brighter colored one so that it is not as

easily lost in the field.

A large survival or Rambo knife is not necessary or recommended. We are not going into combat,

so your knife can be packed away in a cargo pouch or your pocket when it is necessary. It should

not be hung on your suspenders upside down in a combat approach. This is not only unsafe, but

scares the public, and we do not need to do any thing to hurt CAP’s image. Your knife should

always be kept clean and sharp, and should never be played with like a toy. It is a tool that should

only be taken out when the tool needs to be used.

Work Gloves: This is a required piece of equipment for teams in the field. For those heavy -duty

jobs, it is just smart to wear heavy work gloves. Winter gloves and mittens are normally designed

to do one thing, keep your hands warm. That is great, but if you must move wreckage parts to get

to a survivor, you will most likely rip or tear your winter gloves or mittens. Your hands can easily be

damaged, and there is no reason to expose yourself to these problems.

12 to 15 feet of 5/8” rope and a carabiner: This has many uses such as a rappelling seat or other

towing functions, hoisting parts out of the way at a crash site, or helping to make a shelter for your

own survival. Remember that just because you carry it does not mean that you are qualified or

allowed to use it. CAP members do not rappel or perform climbing or high angle rescues without

the assistance and guidance of professional instructors. If you do it and something happens to you

without instructors and guidance, then you will not be covered by CAP insurance and will henceforth

be on your own. Twenty feet of 1" tubular climbing quality webbing can be used to make a more

secure and comfortable harness for most applications. Carabiners should be locking-D shaped.

Whistle on a lanyard: This whistle is used during practical search exercises to give voiceless

commands, as well as to bring attention to yourself when necessary. This whistle should preferably

be made of durable plastic so that it lasts, and does not cause you your lips to freeze to it in the

winter.

Notepad, pen and pencil: Every member should be carrying a writing implement of some sort and

paper when in uniform, but it is always a good idea to make sure that you have spares with your

gear. You may need to record the information off of an ELT or draw diagrams at a crash site. Make

sure you can document what you did.

Additional items: Local regulations, field conditions, or higher qualifications may require you or your

team to carry specialized equipment. Ropes and climbing gear, shovels, and extrication equipment

are just the beginning. Think about what you may need in the next few hours of a search. Some

personnel may carry a small air band radio like the Radio Shack Jet Stream Mini to use to find an

ELT. Mission radio operators may carry a VHF/FM radio to maintain communications with the

ground team vehicle, aircrews or mission base. The ground team leader may carry an Air/Ground

signal kit to establish better communications with an aircrew or to establish a helicopter landing

site. Medics may carry a trauma kit appropriate for their level of certification and competence.

The possibilities can go on for several pages, just remember to take what you may need to

complete the task, but don’t over burden yourself so that you never reach the target. If you don’t

rescue the survivor because you were to slow from all of the gear you carried that could have been

improvised on the site, then someone just dies because you didn’t think. Carrying food for a week

for the entire team to a site one mile off the road that the aircrew is leading you to is not a smart

move. Think before you act.