by Mike Bernier KF5NPM
(Rick K5ECX is taking a break this month, and suggested I fill in for him with an article. This is a transcript of my last presentation on our local ARES training net that talked about “tuning up your Go Kit”)
Go Kits. We’ve all heard about them, and how important it is to have one if you’re out in the field on a SKYWARN alert or other emergency. Go kits contain three different kinds of items – radio equipment and related gear to help you do your job as an emergency communicator, tools and materials to keep you safe and potentially help others, and supplies to help keep you comfortable and fed while you’re away from home. I’m not going to go into all the specifics of those items; we have detailed checklists you can download from the TECO website that recommend what you should have depending on how long you’re in the field, broken down into what you need when you’re out for just a couple of hours to a long-term assignment that could span several days.