Emcomm Ten Essentials

In the backpacking world, the ten essentials are considered to be the 10 items that anyone should have before going out into the wilderness. The list has evolved since it was first proposed back in the 1930’s and there is still ongoing debate of what is considered essential. But the ten essentials can be considered those items which you can’t find of easily fashion in the wild and are considered necessary for survival. My favorite interpretation of this list is the updated 10 essentials listed on the REI site:

1. Navigation
2. Sun protection
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter

I’ve been searching for a good list of essential items for Emcomm and ARES members to have as the foundation for their go bags or jump kits. Most go bag lists take the ‘kitchen sink’ approach with the expectation of a three day deployment. To carry this much equipment may be a good thing If you where traveling to a disaster area to provide communications as part of a recovery operation, but I think it actually creates a disservice to the average communicator. 

The 10 Essentials for an Emcomm operator should consist of:

1. Communication
2. Power
3. Sun Protection
4. Illumination
5. Insulation
6. First – Aid
7. Repair Kit - Tools
8. Hydration
9. Nutrition
10. Shelter

Communication: If you are an Emcomm operator, you should have appropriate communication gear to fulfill the mission. At the very least this would be a dual band HT, antenna and spare battery. Another option would be a mobile rig, antenna, and deep cycle battery. You should have the situational awareness to know what would work best for the type of incident you are responding to.

Power: What will you do when the batteries run out. You need some facility to recharge your batteries, connect to power mains, or supply power from batteries, solar, generator or other sources.

Sun Protection: Are you working outside? Pack a hat, long sleeve shirt and sunscreen.

Illumination: You may be called to work at night, carry a flashlight, or lantern. I prefer UHO candle lanterns as they don’t require batteries.

Insulation: Pack extra clothes and dress in layers so that you can stay warm or cool and be comfortable for a variety of weather conditions.

First Aid. Carry a small first aid kit for cuts and bruises. Carry pain reliever and any prescriptions that you may require.

Repair Kit and tools. Carry essential tools so that you can make adjustments in the field. A multi tool, pocket knife, and wire cutters may be sufficient. Duct and electrical tape also comes in handy.

Hydration: Carry one or two water bottles so you can stay hydrated. Bring along a water purification method If you are going into an area that may be flooded or have disrupted power.

Nutrition: Bring non perishable, shelf stable snacks or food items to keep you going for an 8 to 12 hour time frame.

Shelter: Is a pop up shelter to big to carry, maybe consider a lightweight nylon tarp and rope to erect a temporary shelter. A space blanket, emergency bivy or just a fleece blanket may be enough to get you out of the elements and keep you warm or out of the sun.

I think an effective go bag should be built on a foundation of gear that is suitable for an initial activation. This gear list should be sufficient for maybe an eight to 12 hour deployment. The operator should expect to be relieved and or resupplied at that time. 

What if the operation calls for a greater than 12 hour deployment? Then use the ten essentials as a foundation and add appropriate gear to fulfill the mission for the timeframe that is estimated. This gives the operator flexibility to carry the gear that is only necessary, yet the kit can be adapted for times when he or she will be in the field longer.

I believe that the actual items in the 10 essentials list would vary with the scope of the assignment. If I was typically assigned to provide hospital or EOC communications, my 10 essential items would look different than if I was to provide communications in a remote location. But even if I was going remote, I’d still try to be a light as possible.

Feel free to comment on this gear list. The ten essentials for Emcomm is currently a working document and I want to get a feeling of what works or doesn’t work for others. I’ll make improvements and updates based on the feedback I receive.