Useful Tips If You’re Lost In The Woods

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Assess the Situation

Stay put and try to remember where you came from before backtracking. If backtracking doesn’t work, check if you have enough food to keep you going. Then look at the sky, if it’s grey or notice that night is approaching, your priority is to seek shelter immediately.

Get Noticed

a. Universal distress call always comes in three – ­three shouts or three whistle blows, so do this periodically.

b. Build a smoky fire in the day using lots of slightly damp leaves or make a bright fire at night at an open space. Be careful not to start a forest fire!

Find Your Bearing

Even with no compass, you can still have a rough idea of where you’re heading: the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. If you wear an analogue wristwatch, you can use it as a compass! Go to World Time Zones to learn how.

Mark Your Path

This way, you’ll know whether you’re going around in circles. So gather a pile of stones, branches or leaves along the way in your trail. This will also help a search team to easily track you once they notice the pile.