Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team

When responding to a call, all personnel must be properly outfitted. Inadequate equipment is grounds for immediate removal from the scene. This is absolutely a matter of personal safety, not only for the individual, but also for the team. Equipment should be kept together and packaged such that collection and preparation of gear requires under 10 minutes. Note that equipment pack must be ready 24 hours a day. There are certain items that may not be stored in the pack (e.g. food, water) but they must be easily assessable. To prevent problems, it is essential to carefully to inventory gear frequently. A list of items not kept immediately in the pack should be made so that no items are left out when responding to a call.

ESSENTIAL GEAR (Equipment list: V1.8)

Boots	Waterproof/resistant footwear that provides ankle support. Sneakers are not adequate under ANY conditions and personnel without appropriate footwear will not be allowed to participate in call out activities. Note that proper fit is also essential and call outs are not the place to break in footwear. If there are any questions/concerns, contact an officer.
Socks	2 pairs of synthetic/wool socks, polypro liners (or equivalent) are also recommended
Day pack	Must be able to carry all essential gear and should be comfortable enough for extended wear.
Clothing	NO COTTON (or at least an outfit that is not cotton MUST be available at all times). Needs to include: lightweight, midweight and heavyweight warm top layers lightweight and heavyweight bottom layers Rain/wind gear - outer shell layer needs to be able to fit over inner layers. Any waterproof material is adequate Warm hat, must cover ears (balaclava recommended for fall/winter/spring) Warm gloves or mittens (2 pair) (consider liners as well) Waterproof handwear for wet conditions Safety vest, orange, preferably with reflective stripes Winter - bring heavier, warmer clothes (e.g. warm parka)
Water	2 liters
Water Purification System	Tablets or filter
Food	Adequate for 24 hours under intensive/cold conditions. Should include a package of Jello (no NutraSweet). Recommended: granola bars, candy bars, energy bars, gorp, etc.
Navigational Gear	Headlamp/flashlight (headlight recommended) Backup flashlight Spare batteries Compass Whistle Surveyor's tape
First Aid Kit	4 pairs of latex gloves CPR shield 2 cravats 4 4X4 gauze pads 2 5X9 gauze pads 10 bandaids 20 advil/tylenol 6 betadine wipes/equipment 6 safety pins Blister kit (moleskin/2nd skin) Tape Notebook/pencil 3 ziplocs (kit could be contained in one)
Other	Sleeping pad (e.g. Thermarest) Sleeping bag in fall/winter/spring Knife (e.g. Swiss Army) Lighter/matches Firestarter Toilet paper, tampons 20 feet duct tape (wrap around item such as water bottle) Garbage bag Eye protection Health insurance card/personal ID card Personal medications Contacts/extra glasses Wristwatch Sunglasses - required in snow conditions
Drivers	New Hampshire and Vermont road maps - in vehicle