For those with on-site experience at a rescue mission, especially people who spent several days or weeks on-site, what are the items that you wished you had brought with you?

There are many lists floating around about what people should have, but what items did you forget that would have made things easier?

• Batteries for your mp3 player or digital camera?


• Nail clippers for the cats and dogs?


• Cat and dog brushes?


• A cell phone that you could send text message blog posts from in the field?


• Extra sun glasses?


• Extra contact solution?


• Baby wipes?

A small pair of wire cutters to cut zip ties off cages, dogs, etc.
Lip balm.

The only things I regretted not bringing were an extra tarp and the tiny tv/radio that could run off the car battery or rechargable batteries. There was no electricity where I stayed for 3 weeks and I felt very isolated from the world. We often longed for news of what was going on in the rest of the world.

Newt

Had everything I needed to help the animals in New Orleans, but didn't even think of bringing any protection from mosquitos for myself. But we ran into some Red Cross volunteers who were eager to help out with anything they happened to have on them.

The first time, I forgot shower shoes (flip flops) and regretted it like crazy!!

Lori

for all those w/me in Jackson,MS-one thing I did NOT forget (and everyone during time of deployment said:socks, socks, socks,-can't have enough socks!was ,yes, SOCKS! I had so many socks, couldn't give them away-hahaha! So, for those preping-bring enough socks, but not too many-b/c I'll be back, on the depoyment line and will have plenty of socks for all!!!! I still have about 2 bags of unopened socks fro last year! It was one of those silly times during a very tough situation, those who have gone, know what I mean. But, in all seriousness-bring XTRA shoes/boots!!

I made two trips down to New Orleans, and I was pretty prepared on equipment. But I was expecting miserably hot humid weather, so I only packed hot weather clothes. I got there in mid October, after the summer humidity had lifted. It was OK at first, but later we were digging through the clothing donation sites for sweatshirts. My second trip, I left in late December and stayed two months. I figured temperatures would be down in the 50's and 60's for winter.... and they had one of the warmest winters on record. The sweatshirts sat, and I could have used more t-shirts. So come prepared for anything, even if you think you know what the weather will be. And I will never again travel without mosquitoe netting to sleep under. I couldn't take my tent with the first trip because i was flying. The group I was meeting ended up in the parking lot of the Winn Dixie, so I moved in with the cats under the shelter of the store overhang. I was safe from rain and sun, but still sleeping outdoors, and I got eaten. I had considered taking mosquitoe netting, but it was too expensive. Someone going home left some netting in a bag of stuff they left behind, and I GRABBED it! Now it's packed with my sleeping bag. And speaking of... Always pack a "space emergency blanket". It can be wrapped around a hypothermic person or pet to retain body heat, but it's also good to put under your sleeping bag. It creates a moisture barrier between you and the ground and it reflects your body heat back up at you, so you sleep warmer.