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CISM Team Disaster Equipment List

Please use common sense when packing for deployment. Keep it light, basic, be prepared for any conditions. Security of your things is unknown, so don’t bring anything expensive or that you can’t live without. Think compact and small in packing:
DRCISST Team
Resource Writing Department

Team informational packet (brochures, symptom sheets, etc.)

Small team member packets-Given to each team member

1 set of team prompt cards

25 Stress management sheets

25 General stress articles

25 CISM team brochures

25 CISM team business cards

Active team member list (please keep confidential)

2 Activity report sheets

2 Educational request sheets

Large response kit– CISM coordinator should have back up supplies.

4 sets of team prompt cards

100 Stress management sheets

100 General stress articles

4 Activity report sheets

4 Educational request sheets

1 set of above originals (for further copying as needed)

Referral list

4 Active team member lists (please keep confidential)

Pens, pads, paper, etc.

Telecommunications equipment when available which may include:

Pagers

Personal Cellular Phones with charging cords

Team Local Two-way Radios (FRS/GMRS)

Personal Deployment Items (From the Montgomery PA CISM team)

Think compact and small in packing:

  Keep it to 2 duffels or less i.e. one duffle and one small knapsack

One for your clothes/personal items

The other for everything else

Bring what you own or can borrow

You are not required to buy lots of items

Peruse list to see what you may want to augment 

Many of these items are core to a personal emergency/disaster kit

Clothing:  (Suggestions are for minimum 6 days without washing clothes)

Sturdy shoes or boots, make sure they are comfortable and broken in

Closed toe/low heel, hard sole works best

Several pairs of socks, hiking type socks are a good choice

3 Pants, Jeans: Work, BDU style pants

Wear one, 2 extra?

Undergarments, Consider thermals in colder seasons

Belts pack or backpack

Shirts (Please try to wear team (or primary service organization) shirts). Consider layering options

Wear one, 5 extra?

Sweatshirt or fleece vest

Jacket or Windbreaker

Hat

Inclement weather: Waterproof boots, Snow boots in winter

Consider “Waders” if going to a flood zone

Umbrella

Rain slicker, poncho or rain suit

Hand wash clothes detergent 

Miscellaneous

Something to sleep in (sweats, scrubs, T-shirt/shorts)

Something to wear to showers (same items or bathing suit?)

Shower sandals

Sleep:

Sleeping Bag

Blanket/Sheets (Recommended in case it is too warm or cold)

Pillow (Can bring pillow case and use spare clothes)

Waterproof ground pad (inflatable for comfort?)

Ear plugs (highly recommended)

Food Stuffs:

Water (Mandatory)

1 gallon per day for 3 days (More in hotter seasons/high humidity, primitive conditions)

Fresh tap water (that you bring) in appropriate container is fine

Consider smaller bottles or canteen to fill from main supply

Food (Must bring, Ideas follow) non refrigeration (ie coffee cream) 

High energy such as peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

Comfort food, hard candy, candy bars, cookies, gum, (Take care with melting chocolate)

Cereal and UHT (box) milk

Freeze dried or MRE (military) meals

Utensils

Mess Kit (or reusable plastic cup, bowel, plate, flatware)

Manual can opener (pocket sized or on multifunction knife)

Knife

**Cooking supplies (if you are so inclined and facilities are real limited)

Charcoal, propane, camp stove

Spices, cooking oil

Medical Stuff:

**First Aid Kit (Basic items for personal or team use)

Band-Aids-large and small

Tape and sterile dressings

Gauze

Super glue

Triple antibiotic ointment

Butterflies/steri-strips

Saline for irrigation (eye bottle works well)

Tweezers, small scissors

Prescription Medications

Keep with you at all times

Keep a listing of your medications in a separate spot

Include prescribed non-prescription meds (e.g. aspirin)

**Non-prescription Medications**

Ibuprofen (Advil) or Naproxen (Alleve)-Pain, fever, inflammation

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)-Antihistamine, sleep

Meclizine (Dramamine II)-Motion sickness and nausea

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)-Decongestant

Antacid (Maalox)-liquid and /or tablets

Imodium-Diarrhea

Hydrocortisone ointment-Rashes/irritations

Insect Repellant-The Higher the DEET, the longer and more effective

Sunscreen 30+

Sun block lip balm (Can be used on lips, nose, and ears)

Eyes:

Spare glasses

Sunglasses on neck strap

Contact lens, spares and solutions, etc.

Communications:

Cell phone

Spare batteries

AC and 12 volt charging cords

**Radio (AM/FM/NOAA weather)-For news/weather info)

Spare batteries

**FRS/GMRS radios

Chargers

Spare Batteries

**Pocket (Casio style) TV

**Extension cords with multiple plug-ins

Pay phones

Cash and change for pay phones

Calling Cards

Your phone/address book

Sanitation/Hygiene:

Pre moistened toilets

Alcohol based hand sanitizer (Purell)

Plastic Bags

Plastic garbage bags

Sealable, (Zip Lock)-Quart, 1 and 2 gallon sizes

Paper towels, nose tissues, toilet paper

Personal Hygiene

Liquid soap, shampoo

Deodorant

Comb/Brush

Travel size hair dryer

Toothpaste and brush

Dental floss

Feminine supplies

**Spray disinfectant

**Bleach

Disinfectant

Water purification (8 drops per gallon)

Towels and washcloths (2 each?)

Shower sandals

Safety Items:

Flashlight

Might consider pocket sized and larger

Spare batteries

**Small Hand Tools, pliers, screwdrivers, knife, duct tape, trauma shears

**Alternate lighting

Candles, matches

Lantern

Light sticks (snap sticks- florescent light lasting hours)

Work gloves

Eye shields/protectors

Respirator/face masks

Peppermint drops/oil or similar to put on mask

**Hard hats

Second set of ear plugs (first set is for sleep, trust me)

Administrative Items:  (Coordinate these needs with coordinating team)

Maps of Area (Can download from Map quest or Yahoo maps)

Handouts, starter supply

Any forms required for deployment

Especially recording of expenses

Writing materials

Tablet and drawing paper (or newsprint)

Pencils/pens

Crayons/markers (permanent and dry erase)

Masking or scotch tape (or similar)

Deployment handbook and plan

Larger cache of above supplies as needed

Especially if team is the primary team in/coordinating team

Identification:

Photo ID, license and other personal identification

Official Team/Deployment ID

Professional ID

Business Cards

Medical

Emergency

Credit/Debit

Cash

Boredom Things:

Book(s)

Deck of cards

Crossword puzzles

Travel board games

Music (electronic or otherwise)

Security:  TAKE NOTE

Do not expect there to be security of your items

Do not bring anything that you can’t bear to lose (or be damaged)

Essential items (e.g. prescriptions and ID) should be with you at all times

Laptops and similar electronic devices may be useful

Consider their security before bringing

Such as security cables and locks (though no guarantee)

(The above has been gleaned from Red Cross, PA MHRT, FEMA and personal experience/professional recommendation)

Durham Region Critical Incident Stress Support Team

Durham Region Critical Incident Stress Support Team is a team comprised of experts in dealing with crisis induced stress and trauma.