A few survival tips if you find yourself lost in the woods.
Do not walk aimlessly.
If you are lost and unaware of your surroundings people tend to walk in circles. Try to walk during the day and walk toward the sun. Keep in mind the sun rises and sets in opposite directions so it will not be in the same direction all day. Another good idea is to follow a stream or river. Moving water almost always leads toward a population source. People build homes and camp along side them. If you are familiar with the night sky you can move at night following the North Star to keep you traveling in a straight line. DO NOT fall for the old myth that moss only grows on the north side of trees. This is just a myth and will only get you more lost than before.
Keep a fire going at night.
It does not matter what the weather is like always build a campfire. In the winter this will keep you from suffering from hypothermia and in the summer it will keep any predators away from you. Another benefit of a fire is that it will allow you to be spotted by rescuers or people that may be passing close by. If you don't have matches or a cigarette lighter there are other methods of starting fires. My favorite is purchasing a magnesium fire starter and keeping it on your keychain. Many other ways are available to be researched online.
Do not drink water from a questionable source.
Small streams of running water are the safest source if you do not have a any water purifying items with you. DO NOT drink water from still or stagnant pools of water without heating or purifying. If no source of clean water is available boil the water to make it safe. Now most people do not get lost carrying a pan to boil their water or cook their food so I will give you a method to do this. Find the largest leaf you can and shape it into a bowl shape, this can be accomplished with two small green twigs shaped into a circle. Fill the leaf with water and suspend it over the fire. The leaf will not burn as long as there is water trapped inside and when the water boils it is safe to drink.
Staying put is an option.
If you are not moving and instead prefer to stay in one spot to await rescue, there are other things you can use to aid you. Make some kind of sign that is large and can be easily seen from the air if someone passes overhead. Keep your fire going to avoid having to rebuild it repeatedly. This can be accomplished by you restocking your wood regularly but if you have to leave your campsite cover your bed of coals with a thick covering of dirt. The dirt will insulate your fire and will keep your coals alive for many hours. Another useful tip is to keep green tree branches close to your fire, pine or spruce are the best, if you think someone is approaching place them on the fire. This green fuel will create a thick smoke allowing people to see you from a great distance.
Use great care when you travel.
Many people lost die of injuries incurred while medical treatment is unavailable. Do not get in a hurry. Do not run or walk at a fast pace. Always be aware of your surrounding as there are a lot of holes or loose surfaces that can make you fall. Using a stick or pole to aid you is a good idea as it helps you maintain your balance and can protect you in case of attack.
Very interesting article and very true. Well done. I added you to my friends list too.
#2 by Redburn, Aug 10, 2008
Is it really possible to survive in such environment?
#3 by Jesse Barnett, Aug 10, 2008
To The Ouail thank you very much and to Redburn yes in survival training they teach much more advanced training to survive in enviroment someone could only imagine. As with most things in life it is just mind over matter.
#4 by Sgt Smith, Aug 13, 2008
If you only walk during the day, and always walk towards the sun, this means in the morning you'll be heading east, and in the afternoon you'll be heading west, so you end up right back where you started from. Fantastic advice.
Boiling water in a leaf! Priceless! I was roflmao for 10 minutes. I'm guessing your school hasn't covered evaporation in science class yet...
#5 by Jesse Barnett, Aug 14, 2008
I believe I covered the sun issue by informing the reader to keep in mind that the sun rises and sets in different directions and yes water will eventually evaporate if left unattended. Water will act the same way in a pot if left on the stove and I do not see how this applies. You have to keep in mind not everyone has MRE's and tents when lost. Thanks for the comments though.
