Almost 120 thousand people disappear in our country every year. Among them there are many who went to the forest for mushrooms, berries, spruce branches, etc. Unfortunately, the missing are not always found alive. Especially the elderly. How can you reduce the risk to yourself and your loved ones? What to do if you get lost? What if your relative is missing in the forest?
Most people in response to such questions tend to answer: this will never happen to me. Probably, among those I was lost in the woods, there are also such. Excessive arrogance, confidence in one's good knowledge of the area, the ability to perfectly navigate in the forest, sometimes interfere with being ready to face the problem face to face in reality. And being ready for it means increasing your chances of being saved and surviving.
What to foresee in advance
When going into the woods, leave your overconfidence at home. If relatives go to the forest, especially the elderly or minors, equip them with basic necessities in case they get lost in the forest. Instruct them on what to do if this happens. Do not think that this will never happen to you or your loved ones.
Any of us, especially in old age, is always at risk of a sharp deterioration in health. Any of us is at risk of disorienting ourselves in space. Any of us is at risk of panicking and running in any direction.
When going to the forest, be sure to take with you:
- supply of food and water
- a first aid kit with the most necessary medicines
- compass and map of the area
- a newspaper and matches (it is better, of course, a lighter, since matches can get damp) to make a fire
- a whistle, in case of inability to respond to the shouts of rescuers
- knife
- flashlight with new batteries or a fully charged battery
- a cell phone with a fully charged battery.
When going into the forest, wear bright clothes that are easy to spot from afar. Bring warmer clothes with you depending on the season.
Learn for yourself and teach your relatives to determine the coordinates on the ground using the satellite using a cell phone. It's not hard. At such coordinates, you can be found in a matter of hours.
What to do if you get lost
If it still happens that you get lost, try to contact relatives or rescuers and sit still. If you keep moving, it will be extremely difficult to find you. You can simply walk away from the rescue squad.
If you still hope to get out of the forest on your own, then try to find a path or path and follow it. In any case, she will lead you to the place where people are staying.
If you could not get out of the forest before dark, then be sure to make a fire. It will serve you not only for heating, but also as a guide for rescuers.
Listen for sounds. If you hear someone calling you, shout back. If you don't have the strength to shout, blow the whistle. The sound will make it much easier to find you too.
Try to cope with your panic attacks. In a state of panic, a person is inclined to randomly move around the area, going deeper into the thicket of the forest, getting into swampy swampy places, from which it is extremely difficult to get out. Finding a missing person in such places is also very difficult.
If panic gripped
If you do feel an onset of panic, try to calm down. Stop. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Try to breathe evenly. Try not to "cheat" yourself with negative thoughts. Concentrate on contemplating actions to save yourself. Emotions will only interfere with thinking sanely.
What to do if a relative is missing in the forest
If your relative does not return from the forest for a long time, do not wait, do not drag out time. Report him missing to the police. The period of 3 days from the moment of disappearance has already been canceled. The chances of finding a missing person alive in hot pursuit is always higher.
Together with the police, try to check the most likely places of movement of the relative.
Contact yourself or ask the police to contact the search and rescue volunteer teams to attract more people to find the missing person. Leave someone close at home in case the missing person makes it home on his own.
It is important
Instruct your elderly and minor relatives to take with you to the forest at all times. Get a small backpack for this type of hike. Put everything you need in it. Insist that your relatives always take it with them when they go to the forest. Instruct them on how to deal with them if they get lost.
These simple steps will help increase their chances of surviving in such a situation.
