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Prepared for the Woods

Prepared for the Woods

 Every year, news carries stories about adults and children being lost in the woods.

No one expects to get lost or injured.  But the unpredictable can and does happen. Taking a few precautions can prevent a trip from turning into a crisis.

Always before setting out try to imagine what kind of conditions you might face.

I am going to give you some basic precautions that can help protect you on trips in the wilderness.

“What are some things you could face in the wilderness?

1. A drop in temperature
2. Rain
3. Getting lost
4. Extreme Heat
5. Getting hurt
6. Lightening

We are going to touch on each of those areas, because going out should not be a scary experience.

What kind of activities do you like to do?

I am here to teach you how to enjoy all those activities but also stay safe.

First thing you need to do is

Preparation and Planning

 Travel plans

• Purchase a good map and really study the map on the area your going into
• Always tell someone where your going
• If no one is around leave a note in the car, tent, trailer or home.  If you don’t tell anyone where you're going we will not know where to look.
• Make sure a note includes a date, time you left, direction you plan on traveling, when you plan on returning and how many are in your party.

Foot Printing

•  Before setting out on a wilderness trip.  Place a sheet of tinfoil on a soft towel.  Have everyone put on their shoes and step on the tinfoil and then mark each set of prints with individual’s names.  Make sure if they change shoes repeat the process.  This will make it easier for us to find you.

Buddy System

• If possible, never go camping hiking, hunting, fishing or any winter sports like skiing or snow shoeing alone.  You're always safer when you have a partner.

 Clothing

• Wear clothes and footwear that are appropriate for the terrain and weather conditions that you may encounter.  Always wear a hat.
• Cotton clothing is ok for hot dry weather but is very deadly in cold wet weather.  Cotton when wet speeds up loss of body heat.  Wool is best when wet because it will retain warmth even when wet.

Note: You loose heat through your head faster than any other part of your body.   Remember weather and temperature can change with frightening speed.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.  This happens when a person is exposed to rain, wind and cold without adequate clothing and shelter.
• If you’re lost guard yourself against hypothermia.
• DON’T PANIC…fear is your worst enemy.  It is impossible to think when you are panicked.   Accept the reality of your situation and concentrate on how to better your position.  Doing something positive will help increase your confidence, and confidence is important to survival.
• Avoid Fatigue, slow down.  Exertion uses up calories and creates perspiration which wastes body fluids.  Both will increase you susceptibility to hypothermia.
• Kids stay where you are and let us get to you. Adults, unless you can meet all the following conditions, don’t try to walk to safety:
• You know approximately where you are and where you want to go. 
• You have a means of setting direction with a compass and you know how to use your compass
• Being able to maintain your direction
• You have clothing that will stand up to any type of weather conditions you may run into.
• You carry sufficient food, fuel and shelter with you.

Garbage Bags

• Garbage bags are light weight, easy to carry and can protect adults and children from hypothermia.  Cut a hole for the face at the bottom of the bag.  The bag will help you conserve body heat and stay dry in cool or wet weather.  Don't become active too much while wearing the bag or the reverse will happen.  You will sweat and the moisture will cling to your skin when you stop and you will get cold quickly.

FIRE

•  Fire is one of the best survival tools.  With fire, you can keep warm, dry your clothes and signal for help.  Always carry matches in a waterproof container and or a lighter with you when camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing.

SHELTER

• A variety of shelters can be fashioned by using materials found in the woods.  Such as caves or fallen trees.  Learn how to use tree branches to provide shelter and warmth.  Remember to conserve your energy and don’t exhaust yourself by building an elaborate shelter.

WATER

• Water is more important to your survival than food.  You can survive for several weeks without food but only a matter of days without water.
• Not drinking enough water on an extremely hot day when hiking can lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
• Dehydration will also increase your susceptibility to fatigue and hypothermia.  Your most reliable sources of water are from lakes and streams.  In winter, snow and ice can be melted for drinking water.  Don’t melt snow or ice in your mouth it will lower your body temperature and contribute to hypothermia.

SURVIVAL/ FIRST AID KITS

Places like REI have minimal weight but Maximum benefit First Aid Kits for your hike, etc.

SURVIVAL TIPS FOR CHILDREN

• Stay in one place- a tree can be a friend.  If you get lost select a tree near a clearing and stay there.  If you are frightened, hug and talk to the tree.  This will help prevent panic and keep you in one place, which will increase chance of discovery.
• Noises, tell children to yell at noises that scare them.  If it is an animal they will frighten it away.  This will also help searchers find them.
• Look big: A child can attract the attention of a search plane passing overhead by lying down in a clearing, wearing a brightly colored garbage bag or jacket.
•  No Punishment:  Reassure children that no one will be angry with them if they get lost.  There have been cases where children have hidden from searchers because they were afraid of being punished.

Set Boundaries for Children

• Make sure children are familiar with the camping area.  Show them boundaries, do the same for swimming areas.

Swimming

• Never go alone.  Check for hidden obstacles under the surface of the water, i.e. rocks and logs, avoid water with fast currents.

NOTE:  Once again use common sense when you go out.  Let someone know where you’re going and never go alone, and bring your day pack.

S.T.O.P. 

In almost any emergency, but especially in a survival situation, it is critical that you first S.T.O.P.

• "S" is for Stop. Take a deep breath, sit down if possible, calm yourself and recognize that whatever has happened to get you here is past and cannot be undone. You are now in a survival situation and that means...
• "T" is for Think. Your most important asset is your brain. Use it! Don't Panic! Move with deliberate care. Think first, so you have no regrets later. Take no action, even a foot step, until you have thought it through. Unrecoverable mistakes and injuries, potentially serious in a survival situation, occur when we act before we engage our brain. Then.
• "O" is for Observe. Take a look around you. Assess your situation and options. Consider the terrain, weather and resources. Take stock of your supplies, equipment, surroundings, your personal capabilities and, if there are any, the abilities of your fellow survivors.
• "P" is for Plan. Prioritize your immediate needs and develop a plan to systematically deal with the emergency and contingencies while conserving your energy. Then, follow your plan. Adjust your plan only as necessary to deal with changing circumstances.

YOU WILL SURVIVE!

Stay Put!

 Eight things to remember before going out

1. Always tell someone where your going
2. Go with a friend
3. Study map and let people know the route you plan on taking
4. Wear proper clothing
5. Brings plenty of water and food
6. DON’T PANIC. If you feel lost
7. Stop, Think, Observe and Plan.  “Don’t keep wandering, stay put.  Let us find you.”
8. Make sure you carry a small day pack in case you have to stay overnight.

Prepared by:  Search and Rescue / Wilderness First Responder...... MICHELLE LEE

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