Personal Gear

In the Field

Not all deployment will require field living conditions. However, a significant possibility exists that you will be required to "rough it" for an extended period. Many disaster situations will cause a lack of power, safe food and water, sewage, garbage removal, and proper housing. Preparing the team to survive and operate in these conditions is a must for at least 3 days. After the three day period, supplies such as food, water and medicine should be adequately resupplied by the IRCT of the Public Health Service. It is of utmost importance that the team care for its own. A team member sick from improper food or water will do the team no good and will add additional burdens on the team.

For more field living tips, click below:

A suggested Personal Equipment List or PEL for field deployments can be viewed by clicking below: 

This is considered part of a teams basic load of equipment and all members should have a copy. If you don't already have this list, get it! Many of the list items are critical while other items are just plain good to have. Use this list as a check list for maintaining your personal gear. Have your gear, if possible, mostly packed and ready to go at all times.

The lists do not contain those items like personal tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and mosquito screens, etc. which would normally be supplied by NDMS and are found in the cache. However, on occasion you will need to add these items to your pack, as we did when going to Haiti when NDMS supplies were not available. Special circumstances may also require the addition of other non-cache items such as small tents. When we deployed to Haiti, we had no advanced warning that housing and bedding was not going to be provided the first few nights and had to pick up items such as two man tents, mosquito nets, etc. on our own while in transit.
  Ideally, one member would use a full two man tent, one half to sleep in the other half to store gear in. When selecting a tent, select one with larger screened areas for added ventilation in hot weather. The Eureka two-man Tetragon 5 would be a good example as it has large screened ports on all sides for good ventilation. It also weighs in at just a bit over 5 lbs.

 NDMS logistics is looking into recommending that these items be included in the personal gear as a matter of routine.

Three Bag System
It has also been suggested that in packing for a trip that one should use three bags. One check-on, and two carry-on bags. The larger carry-on to contain one days worth of supplies while the second smaller bag would carry such personal fight items such as food, reading material, flight info, etc. that would be stowed under the seat in front of you.



Dan packed and ready to move from Rockville to the World Trade Center disaster.   DMAT members must pack for the event.

Gear Containment

There are many way to transport your gear. The military use two basic personal bags. The duffel bag carries a great deal of equipment. Some duffel bags have shoulder straps and/or compartments. Flight bags are also a good choice. Backpacks allow for good separation of and organization of equipment but may not carry as much as the duffel bag. Some backpacks convert into travel bags, such as the Jansport China Clipper. Hard packs and suitcase have been used but are not as flexible in their use. Whatever you use, make sure that you put your name and team identification on it. Use permanent markers so that it can be seen from a distance. This will help you in sorting out your equipment from others.

Water proof your gear by putting items into zip lock bags. Don't stop with one bag though, double bag items as water will find any little holes that have found their way into your bags. You can pack a days change of cloths into a large bag. Yes, bags can be bought that are twelve inches square. Carry extra bags with you as you will find many uses for them.

Bag-in-Bag System

Packing smaller bags then putting them into your large bags allow you to organize you supplies. These smaller bags can be used to keep similar items together. Keep items in water resistant bags. If you have to pull supplies out of a duffel bag looking for an item, if items are contained and organized well, they will go back into the back easily.

  • - Food stuffs
  • - Shirts
  • - Pants
  • - Electronics
  • - Bath items
  • - Towels and washcloths
  • - You may also place items of complete changes in a single bag such as; Shirt, pants, socks, underwear.
Nylon stuff bags from any camping outlet are very useful in organizing personal gear for your pack. Don't forget the nylon mesh laundry type bag. Damp clothing can hang and air out instead of clumped on the floor.
Canteens
Your canteen needs to be with you or at hand most of the time. It is an important part of your supply system. To keep it with you, use a pistol type belt with a military style canteen. You can keep you canteen cup and canteen in the canteen cover. Remember to keep only water in a metal canteen as the acid in juices and drinks may react with the metal. Always clean it before you use it for the first time. Start with a teaspoon of bleach in water. Let the canteen sit full for at least 5 minuets. Drain then wash thoroughly with soap and water and rinse with hot water. Clean once more at the end of the deployment. Try to keep the inside as well as the outside clean as it sits in your cup. The fleece of the cover can be wetted with water which will help cool the canteen through evaporation.
Warm Weather

To this point in time, DMAT missions have been conducted mostly in warm to hot weather. Almost all deployments to hurricanes have resulted in hot steamy weather once the storm had moved out. The heat is so intense that night crews trying to sleep during the day found it very difficult. Medical services conducted in tents found the hot muggy weather hard to deal with. Team members must watch for heat related illness among its members. Efficiency will also fall greatly. Evaporation of sweat is an ally and is enhanced by loose,. light colored clothing. Cotton and cotton blends wick moisture well and are desirable. Keep in mind the following:

  • - Wear Sunscreen. Sweat will wash it away so replace it often.
  • - A hat is great to help protect your head and give your eyes shade from the sun.
  • - Replace fluid often.
  • - Replace electrolytes with sports type drinks.
  • - Use insect repellents with 75% or greater DEET concentrations. This is especially important in the islands such as St. Thomas, Haiti, etc, where mosquitoes transmit diseases. Try to avoid the use of short sleeves and shorts on these islands. The IRCT will indicate the health status of your location.
Cold Weather
While it is true that most DMAT deployments have been in mild to hot weather, it is possible that a team could deploy in cold weather conditions such as in the New York Ice Storms deployments of 1998. Exposed skin releases the largest amount of heat. The head and neck need the most attention as this is where most heat lost occurs when left uncovered. Wet skin and clothing can increase heat loss dramatically. Contact with damp clothing can result in an increase of 15% in heat losses while evaporation of wet clothing can increase the heat loss another 20%. Moving air on body surfaces also increases heat loss.

Things to remember about preparing for cold weather are:

- Know the acronym WWW, for Wicking, Warmth, and Weather.  Your inner layer needs to be of a wicking material such as silk or poly.  Your second layer needs to be designed for warmth. Your outer layer should protect from the weather using materials such as Gortex.
- Avoid overheating yourself as that produces sweat.
- Don't get wet! This includes your bedding. Keep all insulative materials that you depend upon dry.
- Use a layering system in wearing clothing. If you get to warm, you can then take off a layer to produce the right amount of heat loss. If you get cold, just add another layer.
- Use a foam pad under your sleeping bag. Remember, when you lay on the bottom of a sleeping bag, you crush the insulation so that it allows heat loss to the air circulating under a cot.


- Keep a stocking cap on anytime you feel chilled. This will greatly reduce heat loss.
- Keep air currents from circulating around you if possible.
- Don't use clothing and socks made from nylon, plastics or vinyl. They are poor insulators.
- Do not breath into you sleeping bag. The added moisture will only decrease the insulative effects of the bag. Wear a stocking cap and if you must protect you face from the cold, place a thin piece of cloth over your face.
- It is extremely important that you select a sleeping bag rated for the temperatures that you will encounter. Mummy bags may be more restrictive, but they are much better in temperatures below 30 degrees. The colder the weather the more insulation thickness you will need. Down is unmatched in efficiency, but man-made insulators, such as PolarGuard Delta, do much better if they get wet.
Shoes and Boots

When you are on your feet a lot, a good pair of boots or shoes are a must. Protect your feet with boots that have ankle protection, good tread, and thick soles. You need to change you socks often and increasingly if you sweat a lot. I prefer wool, but as many people don't care for the scratchy feel, a good thick poly sock may be your best choice.  Check out stores that speciallize in back-packing equipment for good boot socks.

- Don't wear colored socks as the dyes that are used, are bleached out by sweat and are not good for the skin.
- Use high uppers which lace above the ankle.
- Make sure that you have a boot that is water resistant and you have water proofed them before you leave.
- Don't take brand new boots as they have not been broken-in well. Blisters on you feet will certainly slow you down and  reduce your productivity. Make sure they are broken in and are comfortable.
- Take a good pair of tennis shoes with you to relax in during off times. This will allow your boots to air out and dry.