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Be Prepared: Well,
it is good to be prepared, but let’s not get too silly. One of the thing I am being reminded
of is that we are not “first-responders” and in most cases, we
are not doing search and rescue (and most of these kits don’t have the
gear for it anyway). In most
cases, we are going to have to put up with a shift or two away from the
creature comforts of home, but we won’t be roughing it in the wilds of
the Outback either. When you stop
to think about it, we are the only support group that practices and responds
as a self-contained unit. In
reality, we will be working closely with other first responders and support
staff and they won’t be carrying three days worth of food – they
will be looking to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army or the kindness of
local residents to provide them food and shelter. It is for this reason that I am not
including a full “wilderness” kit – frankly, most of us
wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway. I have seen lists that include
some pretty funky stuff (like topos and “ranger” compasses, fire
starter, matches, and a gallon of water per person per day (and don’t
forget the hardhat, safety glasses and respirator).
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You don’t need
that much stuff. In most cases,
ID, a radio, batteries, something to write with, something to write on, a
list of frequencies and your brain will get you through 80% of the call ups. This doesn’t mean we
shouldn’t practice – especially since we practice without
support, but when it really happens, we are part of a very large and well
supported team and we shouldn’t forget that either.
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