I took several posted CERT gear lists from a listserv I belong to, merged them with my own list, sorted the items into categories, and consolidated their contents into one list for planning purposes. Attention must be given to the weight of necessary items that you MUST carry to safely complete your mission, your physical condition, and your need for mobility.
A concept widely used by search and rescue groups is a total gear package consisting of three LEVELS:
Level I:
Clothing you are wearing and pocket contents including minimum survival items such as a pocket knife, lighter or matches, eyeglasses, small "task light" flashlight, pint water bottle, cell phone and pager if you use one for alerting. Suggested weight of Level I gear should not exceed 2 pounds.
Level II:
Consists of personal equipment to support a solo foot assignment in the field for a 12-hour operational period: Personal protective equipment, comfort and safety items include small personal first aid kit, rain gear, hat, snacks, water, portable 2-way radio, headamp on hardhat, extra batteries, 1 liter water bottle (bottles 2 in hot weather), snacks and personal medications for a day, sunglasses, multi-tool or pocket knife, map and compass or personal GPS. Suggested weight of Level II gear should not exceed 8-10 pounds.
Level III:
Consists of your technical rescue gear, extra expendable supplies and life support items to supplement the first two levels. An internal-frame pack of 1500-2000 cubic inches, is a good choice. A 25-30 pound pack is the maximum which a 35 to 50 year-old male in "good" physical condition, with no medical problems, should carry all day. New team members should undergo medical evaluation including a stress test, and when necessary follow up with a structured physical conditioning program conducted under medical supervision.
For Mutual Aid deployments a 72-annex is added to the 24-hour pack. A rubbermaid storage box kept in your vehicle is a re-supply point for your walking kit. In it you should have:
2 full changes of clothes, including socks and underwear
Personal hygiene items - soap, shampoo, towel, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, dental floss
Food for 3 days - 6 meals as a minimum
Water - Minimum 5 gallon container recommended
Sleeping bag, or 2 wool blankets
Cold weather clothing - insulated coveralls, or trousers, extra socks, parka
Rain suit or poncho
Stock of spare batteries for GPS, 2-way radio and flashlights
Pick and choose the essential equipment for your assignment from the following category lists.
Bags and Containers
Multi-pocket gear vest for everyday carry personal items you carry - Level I
Waist Pack to carry water bottles, health and medical items - Level II
Internal frame rucksack for rescue equipment, food, water, shelter and multi-purpose gear - Level III
Rubbermaid Brute container in vehicle for supplemental storage - 72 hour annex
CERT / SAR Job Aids
Flagging tape
Masking tape
Sharpie fine tipped markers (2)
Wide felt tipped marker
Lumber crayon or grease pencil
Carpenters pencil
Fisher Space Pen
Rite In The Rain CERT notebook
CERT FORMS Book
CERT Field Operations Guide
Health and Medical
CPR mask
Triage tape or tags
Decontamination gel or hand sanitizer (12oz.)
Antibiotic ointment
Baby wipes or moist towelettes (100)
Tweezers
SAM splints (4)
Tongue depressors (10)
Petrolatum
Insect repellent with sunscreen SPF30
Sterile needle
Oral thermometer
Sterile #10 blades (2)
Spenco second skin
Knuckle bandages (12)
Band Aids (100)
Butterflly strips (50)
Tincture of benzoin (1/2oz.)
Betadyne (4oz.)
Waterjel (4oz.)
Quick Clot ACS 25g (4)
Military wound compresses (4)
1" Medical tape (100 ft.)
2" Medical tape (50 ft.)
4" ACE Wraps (4)
4" Kerlix rolls (8)
4x4 Dressings (20)
5x9 Dressings (12)
10x8 Dressings (4)
cravats, triangle bandages (12)
Safety pins (24)
Pint irrigation wash bottles (2)
EMT scissors
5" straight jaw Kelly forceps
Aspirin 325 mg (50) not for children under age 12
Acetaminophen 500mg (50)
Ibuprofen 200 mg (50)
Syrup of ipecac
Activated charcoal
Antacid tablets
Signals and Safety
VS-17 Panels (2)
Railroad flares, traffic cones or triangle reflectors (3)
5 lb. 2A-10BC dry chemical extinguisher
Fox 40 or ACR Whistle
Signal mirror
Glow sticks (10)
DANGER tape
Communications
AM/FM broadcast pocket radio
Portable NOAA Weather radio
GMRS/FRS radio
Cell phone with mobile charger
Ham 2m or dual band 2m/70cm radio
Tools and sharps
Pocket Utility Knife, Swiss Army, Boy Scout or Mil-K-818
Multi-tool, Leatherman or Gerber
Sturdy fixed blade, aviator's survival, K-Bar or equivalent
Adjustable Crescent wrench
Non sparking multi-use rescue tool
Folding saw
Shovel or folding U-Dig-it
Hatchet or Axe
Bottle jack
High lift jack
Rope, Cordage and Connectors
Duct tape, muiltiple sues
Paracord (50 ft.) for tag lines
Rope (50 ft.), static load
Nylon webbing, for slings and hoists
Bungee cords (4)
Gear bands cut from bicycle inner tube
Cable ties (100)
Snap links (4)
Tow strap
Clothing and Shelter
Casualty blankets (4)
Wind/rain suit or poncho
Wool or fleece warming layer
Extra dry wool socks
Gloves, cold weather
Watch cap or balaclava
PPE
ICE Card with emergency medical and contact info
Safety glasses with side guards
Sun glasses
Gloves, nitrile, 12 pr.
Gloves, rescue/mechanic's, 2 pr.
N95 masks (4)
Boots, ankle support, traction sole, safety toe
Vest, ANSI reflective Type II
Hard Hat (CERT) ANSI Z89.1-1997, Type I, Class E & G
Fire & Light
SparkLite kit
Waterproof matches
Princeton Tec LED headlamp on helmet
Surefire G2 hand held flashlight in med bag
Microlight II on gear vest zipper pull personal illuminator/beacon
Navigation
GPS with mobile 12V power cable
Orienteering map compass on dummy cord
24,000 scale USGS Topo of assigned search sector
Official State DOT road map
Local street map
Food and Water
Survival water filter
Micro-pur tablets
Pint irrigation bottle in first aid kit
2 quart canteens drinking water on person
Gallon spare water container in vehicle
Snacks 12 hours: hard candy, trail mix, jerky, peanut butter, crackers, raisins
Three MREs
Multi-Purpose and Misc.
5 gal. plastic bucket and lid to store this stuff in, field latrine
Extra batteries, two complete change outs for all devices
Emergency cash, enough for hot meal and a tank of gas home
Extra reading glasses if you need them
Toilet paper
Disinfectant
Paper towels
Folding litter or stretcher
9x12 tarpaulin or Plastic sheeting
Garbage bags and twist ties
Ziplock bags, quart and gallon sizes
Canteen cup or mess tin
Spoon or spork
Paper plates & plastic utensils