Civil Air Patrol
TN-114
Marshall County Cadet Squadron
Commander: 1Lt Theresa HillCadet Commander: Sgt. Steven Russomanno
Emergency Pack

In Civil Air Patrol we never know when we might receive a telephone call to promptly begin a mission.

Ground team members need an emergency pack already prepared and ready to pick up at a moment's notice, which will fill the member's basic needs in the field. 

There usually isn't adequate time just before a real SAR or DR to think about what might be needed, and then locate these items in an organized fashion. 

The following list may prove helpful as a starting point, in filling your ground team emergency pack, so that it is ready when you need it.

ITEM
  
Canteen (fill when called for mission)
Knife
First Aid Kit
Extra socks
underwear
Compass
String, cord
Raincoat/poncho
Sleeping blanket
Whistle (plastic best in winter)
Toilet paper (also great for marking trails; laying out signals to aircraft)
Flashlight (store batteries in reverse)
Fire starting devices
Matches/lighter
Survival manual
Rations (MRE's dry soup, granola bars)
Aspirin, Tylenol, etc.
Can opener
Sterno (canned heat)
Insect repellent
sun screen
Water purifier
Signal mirror
Flares
Candle
Mosquito net
Finger saw
Extra batteries
Hatchet  

Human Fatigue Factors


The study of the various human factors which contribute to mishaps is not an exact science. If asked most people could explain what FATIGUE is. But they probably could not recognize many of its symptoms, because of its initial insidious nature.

Also, since CAP members are frequently "go oriented" people who want to accomplish the mission, they often disregard the signs of fatigue (if recognized) and push on. Fatigue is also extremely difficult to pinpoint as a contributing factor in a given mishap.

A number of factors occur in a fatigued state and, although the order may not be exactly the same, the general trend is for the complex and voluntary functions to fail first. This is often the first signal that the body is beginning its withdrawal into a dangerous condition.


FATIGUE FACTORS:

1. Complex voluntary actions deteriorate
2. Poor control of equipment/machinery
3. Poor hand-eye coordination
4. Less voluntary movement of the eyes
5. Falling behind in copying instructions
6. Reaction time slows
7. Economizing of energy expenditure
8. Writing begins to slope downward
9. Less eye movement
10. Eye blinks are longer
11. Use of simpler terms in speech
12. Silent periods increase
13. Slumping in seat
14. Withdrawal from external to internal world
15. Tunneling of vision
16. Putting off tasks that require monitoring
17. Microsleeps increase
18. Rationalizing that dozing for a minute is OK
19. Loss of directional control
20. Minimal voluntary movement
21. Mistaken locational awareness


Remember that bad judgment seems to accompany fatigue, and lead to mishaps. Do not be too shy to suggest that your companion take a break, if you detect the above factors setting in.
What is an SQTR?

SQTR's, or Specialty Qualification Training Records, are used to sign off individual training requirements for each of the Emergency Services specialty areas. All individual SQTR worksheet may be accessed at CLICK HERE Those areas include:

  • Agency Liaison-Level 1
  • Agency Liaison-Level 2
  • Agency Liaison-Level 3
  • Air Operations Branch Director
  • Communications Unit Leader
  • Finance Admin Section Chief
  • Flight Line Marshaller
  • Flightline Supervisor
  • Ground Branch Director
  • Ground Team Leader
  • Ground Team Member-Level 1
  • Ground Team Member-Level 2
  • Ground Team Member-Level 3
  • Incident Commander-Level 1
  • Incident Commander-Level 2
  • Incident Commander-Level 3
  • Information Officer
  • Liaison Officer
  • Logistics Section Chief
  • Mission Chaplain
  • Mission Observer
  • Mission Pilot
  • Mission Radio Operator
  • Mission Safety Officer
  • Mission Scanner
  • Mission Staff Assistant
  • Operations Section Chief
  • Planning Section Chief
  • Urban Direction Finding Team