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EXPERIENCE > SCIENCE TOOLS > DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES
Reality television makes getting lost and having to survive in the wild look like a grand adventure, but when it happens, chances are you’ll feel anything but exhilarated. Cell phones may not work. Inclement weather may roll up or darkness fall. You may have limited water and food. All of this can be panic-inducing, but keeping a clear head can make all the difference.
Prepare before you get lost. Before you set out on your hike, take some simple precautions by letting friends or family know where you were going and approximately what time you’d return. This pre-hike preparation will mean someone’s already raising the alarm and setting in motion the extensive resources local authorities have to locate missing hikers.
Don’t get lost in the first place. Trails are there for a reason and most hikers only get in trouble when they decide to go off-trail. If you do decide to leave the path, keep the trail in view at all times so you don’t get lost. If you find you left the trail accidentally, stop immediately and retrace your steps. Sometimes this can mean literally following your own footprints back to the trail.
Stay calm, stay put. If you get seriously lost, the first step is to not panic. Stop where you are, sit down and take a few moments to collect yourself. In this age of sophisticated search and rescue techniques, few missing hikers remain missing for long. Your goal now is to maximize your chances of being found quickly. Not wandering about is the first step. A common technique to remind young children of this is called “hug a tree.” This doesn’t actually require you putting your arms around a tree, but it does mean finding a sheltered place where you can get out of the sun, rain or wind and wait for rescue.
Call for help. If you have a working cell phone, obviously calling 911 is your first option. Many smart devices are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) chips, which will help search and rescue teams find you more easily. (See the video explaining GPS at the bottoms of the page.) Describe your situation to the 911 operator, including where you started the hike, where you parked your car, what kind of clothes you are wearing and any obvious landmarks nearby. The operator will give you additional instructions while help is being dispatched.
Assess your resources. Whether or not you were able to call for help, still take a few moments to determine what resources you have on or around you which can assist with rescue. If you have a backpack, open it up and take an inventory of your supplies. What kind of clothing do you have? If you have limited water, what can you use to capture rainwater to replenish your stores? Are there any edible plants around you can safety identify and gather to supplement your food supplies? Making a plan to help with your own rescue will also keep you busy and help prevent a feeling of helplessness.
Make yourself visible and audible. If you’re sitting under a tree to stay out of the sun, rescuers won’t be able to see you very well from the air. But you can do a variety of things to identify your location even if you’re under cover. If you’re carrying a mirror or waterproof matches, can you use these to signal for help or build a signal fire? Can you pile up rocks or mark the ground nearby so it’s more visible from a distance. Many search and rescue crews will actually listen for you as sound is often a better indicator of position than sight, especially in a thick forest. (This is the same reason wolves howl to each other in the forest!) Periodically using your rescue whistle is a good start, but if you don’t have one banging on a tree with a heavy stick or beating rocks together are easy alternatives. These sharp, piercing noises will actually carry further than your voice.
Don’t move after dark. If you’re not rescued before the sun goes down, you’ll have to make it through until dawn. Assess how you can stay warm and dry. Build a fire if you can or create a temporary shelter out of tree branches. It’s very important that you move as little as possible during the nighttime hours, as you’ll increase the chances of injuring yourself.
Keep your mind occupied. Prevent panic and boredom by keeping your mind occupied. Play games with yourself, such as counting pinecones you can see from where you’re seated. Or create stories in your head, like figuring our how you’d build your dream-house from the ground up. But don’t use up battery life by playing games on your cell phone or mobile devices!
Related Information: Outdoor Safety
Reality television makes getting lost and having to survive in the wild look like a grand adventure, but when it happens, chances are you’ll feel anything but exhilarated. Cell phones may not work. Inclement weather may roll up or darkness fall. You may have limited water and food. All of this can be panic-inducing, but keeping a clear head can make all the difference.
Prepare before you get lost. Before you set out on your hike, take some simple precautions by letting friends or family know where you were going and approximately what time you’d return. This pre-hike preparation will mean someone’s already raising the alarm and setting in motion the extensive resources local authorities have to locate missing hikers.
Don’t get lost in the first place. Trails are there for a reason and most hikers only get in trouble when they decide to go off-trail. If you do decide to leave the path, keep the trail in view at all times so you don’t get lost. If you find you left the trail accidentally, stop immediately and retrace your steps. Sometimes this can mean literally following your own footprints back to the trail.
Stay calm, stay put. If you get seriously lost, the first step is to not panic. Stop where you are, sit down and take a few moments to collect yourself. In this age of sophisticated search and rescue techniques, few missing hikers remain missing for long. Your goal now is to maximize your chances of being found quickly. Not wandering about is the first step. A common technique to remind young children of this is called “hug a tree.” This doesn’t actually require you putting your arms around a tree, but it does mean finding a sheltered place where you can get out of the sun, rain or wind and wait for rescue.
Call for help. If you have a working cell phone, obviously calling 911 is your first option. Many smart devices are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) chips, which will help search and rescue teams find you more easily. (See the video explaining GPS at the bottoms of the page.) Describe your situation to the 911 operator, including where you started the hike, where you parked your car, what kind of clothes you are wearing and any obvious landmarks nearby. The operator will give you additional instructions while help is being dispatched.
Assess your resources. Whether or not you were able to call for help, still take a few moments to determine what resources you have on or around you which can assist with rescue. If you have a backpack, open it up and take an inventory of your supplies. What kind of clothing do you have? If you have limited water, what can you use to capture rainwater to replenish your stores? Are there any edible plants around you can safety identify and gather to supplement your food supplies? Making a plan to help with your own rescue will also keep you busy and help prevent a feeling of helplessness.
Make yourself visible and audible. If you’re sitting under a tree to stay out of the sun, rescuers won’t be able to see you very well from the air. But you can do a variety of things to identify your location even if you’re under cover. If you’re carrying a mirror or waterproof matches, can you use these to signal for help or build a signal fire? Can you pile up rocks or mark the ground nearby so it’s more visible from a distance. Many search and rescue crews will actually listen for you as sound is often a better indicator of position than sight, especially in a thick forest. (This is the same reason wolves howl to each other in the forest!) Periodically using your rescue whistle is a good start, but if you don’t have one banging on a tree with a heavy stick or beating rocks together are easy alternatives. These sharp, piercing noises will actually carry further than your voice.
Don’t move after dark. If you’re not rescued before the sun goes down, you’ll have to make it through until dawn. Assess how you can stay warm and dry. Build a fire if you can or create a temporary shelter out of tree branches. It’s very important that you move as little as possible during the nighttime hours, as you’ll increase the chances of injuring yourself.
Keep your mind occupied. Prevent panic and boredom by keeping your mind occupied. Play games with yourself, such as counting pinecones you can see from where you’re seated. Or create stories in your head, like figuring our how you’d build your dream-house from the ground up. But don’t use up battery life by playing games on your cell phone or mobile devices!
Related Information: Outdoor Safety
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Science in Seconds: The Global Positioning System (GPS): What exactly is the Global Positioning System or GPS? This short video provides a thumbnail sketch of how this technological marvel can help you find any place on Earth!
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