Day bag, emergency, and offline readiness

Pack a day bag for a long delay

• full water bottle and a compact snack;
• fitted goggles and particle mask;
• sun protection and a warm or wind layer;
• headlamp plus body visibility light with reserve power;
• essential personal medication or health supplies;
• small first-aid and hand-cleaning supplies;
• personal MOOP container;
• paper card with your chosen camp-finding information, current official radio frequencies, and an out-of-area contact;
• offline map or printed city orientation once the official 2026 map is published.

Keep the bag light enough that you will actually carry it.

Emergency sequence

1. Stop adding danger. In a whiteout, stop walking, cycling, or driving.
2. Move toward shade, shelter, or fresh air only when it is safe to do so.
3. Get attention and clearly state the type of help needed.
4. Send one person to flag official radio support while another stays with the person or hazard.
5. Preserve simple facts: location, what happened, number of people, and immediate hazards.

Expert guidance: Confusion, altered behavior, slurred speech, fainting, or unconsciousness during heat exposure can indicate a life-threatening emergency. Request medical help immediately.

This is not medical, rescue, or legal instruction. Follow current directions from official responders and the Survival Guide.

Offline phone preparation

• Download the current official Survival Guide and map before travel.
• Save ticket and transport confirmations offline, with a paper fallback.
• Use a lock-screen message that helps return the device without revealing sensitive personal data.
• Disable any app assumption that a live map, cloud password vault, or message will always load.
• Keep a separate battery and cable for the phone, but do not make them the only light or navigation system.

Playa tip (community practice - not an official requirement): Create a one-page field card, laminate or bag it, and rehearse finding information on it in darkness. Put only what you are comfortable losing in public.

Common mistakes

• Essential medication stays in camp during a long outing.
• A phone is the only map, ticket, light, clock, and contact list.
• The day bag is so large it is left behind.
• Friends know a camp nickname but cannot describe how to locate it.
• A dead battery also removes body visibility.
• Emergency information contains a home address, access code, or other unnecessary sensitive data.

Test before departure

Turn the phone off for an evening. Use only the packed day bag to navigate, stay visible, add warmth, identify how to request help, and find the return information. Remove anything unused that adds weight; add anything you had to borrow.