What To Do When You are Lost in the Wilderness
More Articles Related to LostBeing lost in the wilderness is all about having the confidence in yourself that you can survive. This is where your survival skills and survival training come into play. If you know you are equipped and skillful enough to spend several days roughing it alone, you can go about doing what needs to be done rather than give in to panic.
In general, people who survive being lost in the wilderness are rescued within 72-hours (3-days). Follow these basic tips and your chances of surviving are greatly increased.
- First, when you know you are lost - Do Not Panic. Stay right where you are, rather than traveling further into the unknown.
- If possible, go to a sheltered area next to a body of water such as a lake, pond, or stream. In general, searchers will have an easier time locating you if you are near such easily identifiable features of the landscape that are more open to view from the air. In addition, having easy access to plenty of water will help you to survive. Try to locate an area near the water that has plenty of good firewood as well a good shelter making potential.
- Build a fire. A good survival fire works wonders in building up your morale. Just the effort in gathering fire making materials and keeping the fire going will help dispel your fears. Fire will also warm you, dry out your clothing, and keep aggressive animals at bay. Fire can be used to disinfect water you obtain in the wilderness - in fact boiling water is perhaps the best means of water disinfection.
- Next, set up a shelter. This can be made from the natural materials at hand to which are added whatever you may have brought with you. A good survival kit should always have a 5 x 7 foot tarp or "space blanket" which forms the basis of an excellent survival shelter. You can also use branches, leaves, grass, even dirt. Utilize the base of a large tree or an overhanging rock. In cold climates snow is an excellent insulator and you can use it to your advantage in the construction of a winter survival shelter. The main thing is to get out of the wind, rain, or snow so that your fire can keep you safe and warm.
- Think about signaling. Your survival fire can be used as an excellent signaling device. Keep plenty of quick burning material close at hand in case you hear an aircraft or see potential rescuers approaching in the distance. Evergreen boughs burn hot and fast, and if they are green have the added advantage of giving off a great deal of smoke. Green or wet plants will also give off alot of smoke when placed upon a fire. The smoke from your fire can often be smelled far downwind by potential rescuers. You may also be able to make a signal mirror.
- Once you are sheltered and have your fire going, you are in a good position to sit down and take full stock of the situation. Empty your pockets and backpack and take inventory of everything you have. Ration your food (and if need be, ration your water) so that it will last that magic 72-hour period within which nearly all rescues take place. Consider possible uses for the materials you happen to have with you.
- Try to figure out where you may have gone wrong, and attempt to relate the surrounding landscape to what you remember from maps and personal experience. If you do not have a compass you can still re-establish your bearings using the north star, the southern cross, the sun compass shadow method or if you know the time of day you can use time as a compass.
- If you do choose to try to make it out of the wilderness on your own, be sure to leave a note at your campsite outlining your plans, direction of travel, and your condition. As you travel, be sure to leave markers at regular intervals so that you can find your way back if need be - you do not want to get yourself more lost than you already are. These markers could also alert would be rescuers should they come upon them while searching for you.
- As you travel, do not take unnecessary risks. Remember, there are no hospitals in the wilderness. Especially if you are on your own, an injury in the wilderness could reduce your mobility or even be life threatening.
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