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If you think you'll be searching an area of dense blackberry or ongaonga, take a pair of gardening gloves. They can save your hands and your polypro gloves from getting shredded.

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Your SAR Kit

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NZLSAR references

Section 4 (pages 18 to 20) of the 2nd edition of the New Zealand Land SAR Field Guide (Roger Curl, 2006. ISBN 0-473-04914-7 ) refers to Food and Equipment. Additional information about clothing and equipment can be found in the Mountain Safety Council publication 'Bushcraft', Outdoor Skills for the NZ Bush, Chapter 7, pages 39 to 50 (Goldring and Mullins, 3rd edition 1995, ISBN 0-908931-11-5). All WLSAR members should study these books.

What to take?

It depends! For urban or uban fringe searches, a daypack may suffice. However, for backcountry searches in the Tararuas, Rimutakas, or Haurangi's, pack for at least two days. For starters, irrespective of location, you should wear:
  • tramping boots and gaiters
  • wool socks
  • shorts
  • polypropelene or wool top
  • headgear as necessary
  • SAR jerkin (supplied by WLSAR)

Here's a list of things you should have in your SAR kit, packed and ready to go. These items can be placed in either a day pack or a backcountry pack.

  • torch & spare batteries
  • map (if applicable) & compass, whistle
  • notebook (waterproof) & pencil
  • warm hat & gloves (spares too if possible)
  • wet weather/storm gear
  • personal first aid kit
  • snackfood (make sure it hasn't expired)

A backcountry pack should include:

  • Storm gear (parka, overtrousers, gloves/mittens, balaclava)
  • Tentage (tent/fly and/or bivvy bag)
  • Sleeping bag, ground sheet and/or foam pad/thermarest)
  • An extra layer of polyprop/merino/wool tops and longjohns
  • A Down or fleece jacket
  • Two days of food plus billy/eating utensils, stove, fuel, matches/lighter, and water container/platapus
  • Toilet paper and personal first aid kit
  • Notebook and pencil, compass, map, torch/headlamp, pocketknife, whistle. If you have your own GPS, then bring a download cable too.
  • Sunhat/sunblock, insect repellant, sunglasses/goggles

Group gear supplied by WLSAR may include:

  • Communications (VHF and/or HF radio(s))
  • SAR jerkins
  • First aid kits
  • GPS's
  • TCA kits
  • Stretcher
  • Flares or smoke sticks
  • Rope kits
  • axe/machete/slasher
  • A fly

Site Map This page last modified December 7, 2007