Whenever you participate in a wilderness search you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 24 hours, regardless of conditions. All initial response team and second wave volunteers should keep a pack loaded and ready to ensure the ability to respond to a call quickly. Remember, that being prepared for a task in the summer will be different than being prepared for a task in the winter.
Never travel without your pack. There is a tendency to get the people into position using helicopters,  boats or vehicles and bring in the gear on a later trip. If the weather closes in and the helicopter can't fly, you may be in for an interesting night if you left your pack behind.
It is imperative that you have personal equipment ready to go at all times. Keeping a ready pack "ready" is often a struggle as you are likely to use your gear for other activities besides SAR. However, once the call comes in time should not be wasted hunting for gear.
The following list of personal equipment is recommended for all people involved in carrying out wilderness searches

• Plastic tarp or shelter (3m x 4m)
• Water proof clothing bag (2 large orange plastic garbage bags)

Spare clothes

• Change of Clothes
• Additional pairs of socks
• Cold wheater gloves, jacket and headgear
• Wind and waterproof coat and pants

Equipment

• Fire starter (matches, lighter, candle and fire steel)
• Food
• At least 1L of water (2L if there is no dependable water source)
• Water container and some way to purify the water (water tablets)
• Pot with a lid
• Rope (15m light nylon)
• Knife
• Orienteering compass
• Headlamp plus extra bulb and battery
• Pad and pencil
• Map
• Toilet paper
• Personal first aid
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Whistle
• Watch
• Sunglasses

Other useful items

• Folding saw
• Altimeter
• Emergency blanket
• Flagging tape
• Scissors
• 3-5m light wire
• Sleeping bag
• Lightweight stove and fuel
• Pencil flares
• 2-12 hour light sticks
• Duct tape
• Booklet on wilderness survival

First Aid Equipment

• 10cm x 5cm pressure bandage
• (6) 10cm x 10cm gauze pads
• 7.5cm x 5m "Kling" gauze roller bandage
• 2.5cm adhesive tape
• (6) Elastoplast (recommended) band aids
• Medical gloves
• Triangular bandage
• Moleskin or equivalent product
• Pocket mask for artificial respiration or CPR