Emergency Equipment

Blizzard survival bag. Very effective silver foil sleeping bag for emergency / intentional use. Double layers of fabric create a warm zone of still air, giving warmth equivalent to a 1 - 2 season sleeping bag. Neither very light nor very compact (it won't fit in a helmet or down a boot!)it is massively more effective than the traditional orange survival bag, let alone lighter versions. Excellent kit. Combine one or two of these with a group shelter, a small cooking pot, and a hexi stove, to make a small tacklebag size, light, robust, and effective 'emergency grab bag' for expeditions who want to be self sufficient in the first instance - from the Berger to the back of beyond.

Daren drum, standard, 3.6l capacity. Strong, waterproof (but not diveable) and versatile container. Round section, screw top lid with basic O ring. Suitable for protecting emergency equipment, first aid kits, general underground camping gear etc etc. A Blizzard blanket will fit in one of these drums. Named after their initial use in British caving in the wondrous Daren Cilau, where the prolonged and thrutchy entrance series caused a demand for some means to get camping kit into the far reaches in a useable condition. This one is c. 19cm across the base, with an opening of just over 13cm. It will fit easily into the following bags: Beast Junior (two), Beast Daddy (three easily), AV 30l bag (four, easily)

Edelrid Ropetooth folding lock knife. Solid handle, sharp serrated blade well suited for rope cutting, large hole in main body ideal for clipping in to an oval karabiner. The Ropetooth has two other very valuable features: i. a small textured knob on the handle facilitates one handed opening (potentially very useful if the user can only free one hand - did you see '127 Hours'?) ii. the blade locks when opened, significantly reducing the chance of injury should the blade close unintentionally. A cheap and effective safety tool that should be carried on every SRT trip, and by every group leader! Has also been used by Russians to open tin cans (not recommended) and slices baguettes with ease.

MTDE Latex drybag, medium. As per the small version, a *properly* waterproof drybag (as featured in 'Alpine Caving Techniques'. Has taken kit through short sumps entirely dry .Will fit the contents of a small but comprehensive safety sack, goes into the MTDE Taladro bag quite nicely. Capacity 25l, size 61cm by 34cm.

Petzl Fixe pulley. Simple, sturdy, fix cheeked pulley for hauling, simple tyroleans, and self rescue. Carry one of these and two oval krabs with your basic SRT rig, and it is possible to create an effective pulley jammer system (as long as you know how to make it in the first place). Simple bearing, so not as low friction as bigger models. However, it is small enough to carry unnoticed, until it is needed. Also works in conjunction with a Mini - or Pro traxion to make a very effective 2:1 hauling system. Requires an oval krab such as the Axxis for greatest effectiveness.

Petzl Pro traxion pulley jammer. A larger, heavier, but more easily operated integrated pulley jammer than the Mini traxion. More effective low friction bearings, and the sides swing apart more easily when required. Designed for more serious rescue hauling, it is frequently used by rescue teams and professional cavers. Not generally an item of personal kit, but taking a pair away on a trip abroad, putting them in a bag with spare ropes and a couple of bolt kits - and having a plan!- is a step towards being able to make an effective initial response to a casualty in a cave...injuries and other circumstances permitting. Use your common sense! Don't sue me if you choose to haul a spinal injury in their harness... This kit requires an oval krab, two are more useful.Add a Fixe pulley for the makings of the effective 2:1 haul system. NOTE: as with the Mini traxion, the place to learn how to use this is not underground. Especially, how to release it while your mate is stuck under a waterfall. Practice - like any tool you've got to use it correctly.