No one begins a wilderness adventure expecting to get lost. Any yet, every year, a significant number of people get lost or stranded in our nation’s woods. Every hiker that enters the wilderness must know the answer to the question, “What if I get lost?”

Search and rescue professionals recommend the following tips for someone who is lost.

• Stop walking!
• Draw attention to yourself safely. Blow your whistle or yell back if you hear your name called. Make yourself and your camp visible from the air.
• Keep calm. Use the survival gear in your Ten Essentials* kit to get comfortable while you wait for rescue. Stay warm, dry and visible.

Note: Rescue personnel will normally suspend search efforts during the night. But stay put. The search will resume again after the sun rises.

*Ten Essentials resource:

Adventure Medical Personal Essentials First-Aid Kit