Your SAR Kit

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

What to Wear

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)

What to Pack

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.

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 and spare batteries
  • map (if applicable) and compass, whistle
  • notebook (waterproof preferably) and pencil
  • warm hat and gloves (spares too if possible)
  • raincoat
  • personal first aid kit
  • snack-food

A backcountry pack should also include:

  • over-trousers, balaclava
  • tent, fly or bivvy bag
  • sleeping bag, ground sheet, foam pad/thermarest)
  • extra layer of polyprop/merino/wool top and bottom
  • down or fleece jacket
  • two days of food
  • billy, eating utensils, stove, fuel, matches or lighter
  • drink bottle or water bladder
  • toilet paper
  • pocketknife
  • sunhat and sunblock, insect repellent
  • sunglasses or snow goggles

If you have your own GPS a download cable is useful.

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.

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 or slasher
  • Fly