|
Having just packed for such an expedition I have a few hints on things to take ...
Some type of premoistened wipey thing. Baby wipes are good, especially if you can find them in the travel pack size. The diaper bag size boxes are far to large to be practical, and don't fit in the pockets of a pair of BDU pants. I have spent a lot of time recently looking at the labelling on these antibacterial wipe things. A lot of them very clearly state "for hands and face only." I assume this to mean that they aren't intended for use on the more sensitive areas of the body. For this reason I bought the ones for diaper changings.
BDU pants are the way to go, incidentally. Tons of pockets, durable, and comfortable. And they come in an amazing variety of colors. Go for neutrals like navy and black.
Waterless hand wash is an essential.
Flashlights ... pick one(s) that are small, light, and durable. Try getting ones with an easily replaceable battery. I happen to prefer AA, since that's also the size that fits my digital camera. Nothing sucks more than a perfectly good flashlight with dead batteries. If you get Maglites they usually have a spare bulb under the cap. I purchased and packed with the idea that everything I took should be considered a disposable, so I went out and got a new LED flashlight that takes AAs for around $10.
I also took a booklight, just in case I had some downtime at night. Reading under the covers with a flashlight was really cool as a kid, but it's a pain in the ass sometimes. Also, if you end up having to fill out paperwork, it's tough to balance a clipboard, flashlight and pen all at the same time.
You don't necessarily need these ... but I got a batch of glowsticks, both 12 hour and 1 hr varities.
Speaking of batteries, if you can get a spare battery for your cellphone, all the better.
If there aren't sufficient cell towers, you'll also want to have a prepaid phone card.
Journal - you never know when you're going to want to jot something down for posterity and later Cellar posting. In fact, start your journal now, write about your current impressions, concerns, fears, and hopes for your mission.
A book you don't mind abandoning somewhere.
DO NOT be wearing those "heavy work boots" for the first time. Make sure that they are broken in. One of the most frequent injuries treated at disaster sites are blisters!!
Even if you aren't an EMT or First Aid provider, get a small personal first aid kit. Bandaids and Corn Pads are your friends.
Disposable gloves really do have 1001 uses.
Take more socks than you think you'll actually need.
Toiletries. Travel size stuff is GREAT for this ... although you'll be on the ground for a while. I bought the travel container for my hippie soap (discussed in the tea tree oil thread) for when I went camping this summer ... since it's able to be used as both a shampoo and body soap it really helped as far as reducing the bulk of what I was carrying).
Travel alarm clock.
Watch that's cheap enough that you don't care if you lose or break it.
Any medications that you need to take daily. Take extra. Make sure that at least one set of the pills is stored separately in a watertight container.
Aspirin (or motrin or tylenol), vitamins, antacid, antidiarrheal, allergy meds, cough drops.
Picture of the familyV.
And a towel. Always know where your towel is.
I might think of other stuff later.
Oh, and the most important thing to remember when you're going to take care of others is TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST.
Even when you are doing good for other folks, helping them, it's stressful! Make sure that you get some time for YOU every day. Exercise when you can, and make sure you talk to other folks about your impressions and feelings. You may end up seeing stuff that you're not supposed to, or not accustomed to. Trust me, some of it's rough even for people who do this kind of thing every day. I know that somewhere around here I have a stress management for disaster workers handout ... I'll post that later tonight.
|