Recent Comments

Lost in the Woods! Now What?

lost

O.K. You’re lost. Now what?

S-T-O-P!

If you don’t know where you are or which way to go, STAY PUT. People will start looking for you as soon as someone realizes you’re missing. Meanwhile, it’s time to use your No. 1 survival tool — your brain. Follow the S-T-O-P signs.

S. Stay calm: You can’t use your brain well if you’re in a panic. Breathe slowly and deeply. Drink some water, eat a little something.

T. Think: How did you get here? Get out your map and see what you can figure out.

O. Observe: Look for your footprints. What about landmarks? Find the clues and maybe you can solve the mystery of where you are.

P. Plan: If you’re pretty sure of the way back, move carefully. But what if you’re wrong? Mark your trail as you move — piles of stones, broken branches. That way you can always come back to where you were.

GET NOTICED

whistle

Help searchers find you. The universal distress call always comes in threes: Three shouts, three blasts on a whistle. Start calling. Make a smoky fire in the daytime (toss grass or green leaves on the flames) or a bright fire at night. Spread extra clothing or any bright gear in the open to catch the eye of a rescue pilot.

Make yourself comfortable. Pitch a tent if you have one, or make a shelter out of the wind. Use the gear you have to help you stay warm and dry. How long can you last? Without water, for several days. Without food, for several weeks.

BRIGHT IDEA

mirror

On a clear day, the flash of a signal mirror can be seen up to 100 miles away. Any mirror will do. To aim it, hold the mirror with one hand and extend the other hand in front of you. Tilt the mirror until its reflected light fills your empty palm. Make a V with your illuminated fingers, then sight through the V toward an aircraft.

The lid of a tin can, a piece of foil or anything shiny can also work.

10 Comments on Lost in the Woods! Now What?

  1. wow.

  2. wow

  3. old crappy fisherman // June 3, 2007 at 2:52 pm // Reply

    i got shot once i went to the hospitle

  4. stop}good one!!that was funny ha ha ha ha!!!

  5. AlbertaForestryFireFighterDad // May 29, 2007 at 5:34 pm // Reply

    Best thing to do at any age once you notice that you are

    1 Stay Put

    2 Build a Fire ( parent teach your Kids early ) being to Cold can Kill you

    3 stay in sight of your camp ( look for water )

    Above all else First Aid to any injurys

    4 And if you have to Move make an Arrow out of Rock to show which way u went

    Some One will find u

    And above all else Learn how to Survive

  6. STOP! good one. ! !

    U

  7. once i got lost in the woods. it was freaky

  8. saras brother those are good tips

  9. saras brother // May 18, 2007 at 4:40 pm // Reply

    if you ever herd a partridg drum or havent, go in the forest with your dad or grandpa and sit on a log, but you HAVE to be early in the spring. but anyway sit there, you cant talk you have to be very quite or it wont drum, listen very closly and i will start eventuly, it is very deep and quite so listen and those are my tips.

  10. good tips

Leave a Comment

Please don't use your real name.