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July 18, 2003 Automobile gear In a natural disaster or other emergency situation, you may have to leave home and evacuate the immediate area in a hurry. If you are military, you can always chuck your TA50 and other duffel into the trunk, but you may also want to have an emergency kit for your family’s use. Some of these items should be in your vehicle at all times. If you don’t want this in your trunk , at least keep a bag packed which you can toss into the car on a moment’s notice. # Small shovel, collapsible # Flashlight and spare batteries # First aid kit and any prescription medication your family members require # Water # Food (leftover MREs are fine for this-- in an emergency, you’ll eat anything) # Wool blankets or sleeping bags # Copies of important family documents in waterproof container # 100 ft of 3/8" nylon rope # Maps # Extra clothing (socks, windbreakers, hats, gloves--whatever your localaity might require) # Books or games for entertainment during long, boring hours of waiting around for something to happen # Personal hygiene items # Plastic tarp Clothing While on military duty you will in almost all cases be wearing the prescribed uniform. It is nonetheless possible to be more comfortable than your buddies if you make use of some accessory items of clothing. For example, in cold weather you may wish to wear some longjohn style polypropylene or polyester underwear, which you can purchase at camping stores or from paramilitary catalogs. This wicks perspiration away from your skin and retains heat even when it gets damp from rain or crawling in marshy tundra. Short, lightweight versions are good summer items as they keep the skin drier in humid weather. When wearing civilian clothes while traveling or when off duty, you can be much more comfortable by applying certain principles of clothing selection. When expecting warm weather, it is still smart to pack a lightweight jacket and a set of long pants/slacks, just in case of unexpected cool weather. When packing for cold, use the layer system of several thinner layers rather than relying on a single heavyweight layer. This will allow much more flexibility and help prevent overheating. Avoid cotton if you expect to be damp. It loses insulating ability, holds moisture close to the skin, and dries slower than synthetics or wool. Other specific suggestions follow. Warm weather clothing # Loose fitting clothes. # Light colored clothing. # Cotton or cotton-poly blends in dry climate shirts and pants. # Even in hot weather, have a light jacket packed where it can be reached easily. # Loose-fitting, ventilated hat with a brim to shade the eyes and ears. # A compact umbrella or other rain protection should be easy to reach. # A lightweight polypropylene or other synthetic t-shirt and underwear if expecting to get wet. Cold weather clothing # Inner layer of polypropylene or other hydrophobic synthetic. # Middle layer of synthetic fleece, wool, or other good insulating agent which remains warm when wet and dries more easily than cotton. # Outer layer that is breathable but tightly woven to shield against wind and snow. Nylon, polyester, or other more modern synthetics such as the ceramic-based fibers are good. Gore-tex (trademarked) or similar permeable membrane clothing may be theoretically the best, though many doubt the effectiveness of these laminates and they are expensive. # Thin polypropylene socks worn inside your heavy outer socks will help prevent blisters and keep your feet drier. These can be found in camping stores. # A polypropylene or wool watch cap or other head covering. If your hands and feet are cold, put on a cap! Most heat is lost through your head. This can help guarantee a warm night’s sleep, as it is more comfortable than tucking your head inside a sleeping bag and causing moisture condensation from your breath. Travel health care Sources of information Information regarding specific health hazards of your destination, the shots required, where to obtain medical help if you become ill overseas, and other medical information useful to travelers can be obtained from the sources below. # Center for Disease Control’s International Travelers Hotline... 404-332-4559 # State Department’s Citizen’s Emergency Center......................202-647-5225 # International Association for Medical Assistance......................716-754-4883 # Medical College of Wisconsin Travel Clinic on the Worldwide Web............. http://www.intmed.mcw.dcu/travel.html # Military base medical clinic/hospital ------------ Email Brooks A. Mick: brooks15@cox.net Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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