If you get lost in the forest: a survival guide from a psychologist

Most often, people of mature age, from 50 to 85 years old, are lost in the forest. Moreover, neither gender nor social status plays a role. Going for mushrooms and berries, we can get lost even in a familiar forest, where we have gone more than once.

Someone does not calculate the strength and goes too far. Someone is so fond of quiet hunting that they simply do not follow the road and, when they raise their eyes from the ground, do not understand where they are. So after a few hours, the elderly, without noticing it, find themselves in a windbreak, which even an adult trained person cannot always get into.

Teenagers may find themselves in the same situation, usually they have a specific goal – to build a hut, to catch or release a hedgehog, to help their parents find mushrooms for dinner. Unfortunately, children have no idea about the danger and do not think about the consequences. A child cannot leave the forest on his own.

Adults are let down by excessive self-confidence and the feeling that the forest is not dangerous. There are situations when a person did not plan to be in the forest – for example, he walked along the edge, talked enthusiastically on the phone, did not notice how he went into the thicket and, when the conversation ended, he realized that he did not know where he was.

Freeze, rush about and other dangerous strategies

How does a person behave when he realizes that he is lost? Everyone reacts differently. Children tend to keep moving forward. The child cannot always understand that he is lost, and turns everything into a game, into a journey. In addition, from fairy tales, the child already knows that a wolf and a bear live in the forest, who strive to eat someone.

Different sounds, especially in the night forest, increase fear. Therefore, when a child is called, he will rather sit quietly and not respond – “so that the bear does not come.” Of course, all this complicates the task of search engines. A child can not only be silent, but also hide, and in such places where they will not notice him and pass by. Therefore, it is very important to teach children to stay still and always respond when called.

When an adult realizes that he is lost, he tries to get out on his own. It happens that he gives in to panic and begins to rush through the forest in search of a way out. He often goes even further and deeper into the forest, and only when his strength runs out or it starts to get dark does he call relatives or 112. Older people usually try to calculate their strength, but it doesn’t always work out: only in the forest does a person realize that he has much less strength than he assumed.

Elderly people often stay where they are because it is difficult for them to walk. They find a place to sleep, and the next day, after a short rest, they continue to look for a way out. Some thus pass 40-50 km and come out at the other end of a large forest.

survival guide

Realizing that we are lost, we experience fear for our lives. On the one hand, it allows you to focus and do everything for survival. But on the other hand, it can lead to panic and a complete loss of control over the situation.

If you are one of those who easily give in to despair, prepare in advance: save yourself the instructions in your phone notes or on paper. If you don’t have such a memo, you can draw it up right on the spot, having thought out an action plan and following it strictly point by point. What would such an algorithm look like?

1. To stop. If you are already lost and feel panic coming, the most important thing is to stop. This will give you the opportunity to come to your senses and orient in further actions. In addition, this will allow rescuers to find you faster.

2. Get in touch. It’s not always easy to admit that you need help. But in this case, trying to get out on your own can lead to the fact that you will only go further into the forest, and it will be more difficult to find you. The most effective and wise solution would be to turn to professionals – by calling 112 or the hotline of the Lisa Alert DPSO at 8-800-700-5452. Operators are trained to respond to situations when a person gets lost in the forest, and not only organize your rescue, but also help you navigate further. They will tell you what to do and in what order.

3. Breathe. If you feel like you are starting to panic, try to follow your breath. As a rule, with severe stress, it becomes more frequent and gets confused, becomes superficial. Try one of the following techniques to help manage stress:

• take a few deep breaths and breaths, breathe in your belly. The exhalation may be longer than the inhalation, but not vice versa;
• try breathing on multiple counts. Start with 4 and gradually increase. Count to yourself from 1 to 4 as you inhale, take a short break, and from 1 to 4 as you exhale. It may not work right away, but if you give yourself time to calm your breathing, it will help reduce stress.

4. Choose and arrange a waiting area. If you don’t have your phone with you or the battery runs out, this does not mean that they will not look for you, but it may take a little more time to organize the search. Your task in this case is to make it easier for rescuers to notice you and organize a place where you will wait for them. It is necessary to minimize the danger – find a dry high place nearby, light a fire. It will allow you not to freeze at night and will attract rescuers.

It is worth preparing for the fact that you will have to wait for rescue for several hours, so for the fire you will need to prepare brushwood so that it lasts all night. At the same time, it is important not to stray far from the parking lot and always keep it in sight. You need to take care of a place where you can relax – a stump, a log or a plucked spruce branch are suitable in order not to sit on the ground. Try to stretch out supplies and water for a long time.

5. Be mindful of medications. If you need to take any medications regularly and have them with you, make sure you don’t miss your medications. In a stressful situation, you can forget about them, and the condition will worsen regardless of external factors.

6. Prepare for a meeting with rescuers. When you are searched, you will need to signal the search engines. It can be a scream, a rhythmic knock on wood with a stick, attracting attention with bright clothes or their reflective elements. Think about how you can get noticed.

7. Monitor your physical condition. It is very important not to freeze or overheat. In hot weather, you should not stay in the sun for a long time, but it is better to hide in the shade. In cold and wet weather, you need to protect yourself from the wind, constantly move to keep warm. If you get lost, they will look for you. Your task is to wait for the search engines and make their work easier, to make sure that you are found as quickly as possible.

So, if you get lost, the plan is:

1. Stay where you are lost.
2. Focus on next steps.
3. Call 112 or the Lisa Alert hotline at 8-800-700-5452.
4. Get down to business – arrange a waiting place for rescuers, light a fire.
5. Save water.
6. Monitor your physical condition, regulate breathing.
7. Remember that they are looking for you! Listen and give signals.

How to prepare for a hike in the woods

• Study the area – how big is the forest you are going into, are there swamps that can be dangerous, are there landmarks that you can go to if necessary – for example, a road or railway that you can hear.
• Dress brightly.
• Take with you a minimum supply of water and food, medicines, a charged mobile phone, a whistle.
• Tell someone about where you are going and when you plan to return. Agree on a plan for control calls and actions if you did not get in touch at the agreed time. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to get lost in the woods and panic. It is better if you not only know what to do in an unforeseen situation, but also train – try to play it. This works with both children and adults.