What to Start With: Preparation Tips
The health and even life of a person who has lost their way in the forest largely depend on how thoroughly they prepared for their outing in nature.
It is recommended to inform your loved ones about your plans. Let them know where you intend to go and for how long, as well as provide an approximate route. Ask them to refrain from calling unless it is urgent; however, if you do not return at the specified time, do not answer calls, or your phone is out of reach, they should contact the rescue service.
If You Get Lost in the Forest: Tips and Recommendations for Survival Actions
If you realize that you are lost in the forest and do not know how to find your way out, stop and gather your thoughts. Do not panic. The first step should be to call the rescue service.
Check the battery level of your mobile phone and switch it to power-saving mode.
If you notice a clearing, road, field, or power line among the trees, follow in their direction.
If you find yourself in a swamp, try to reach the highest and driest area possible. It is recommended to go back along the route you have already taken, that is, the safe route.
If it is getting dark, find an open and dry place, build a fire, set up a shelter, and stay there until morning. Avoid moving through the forest at night, even if you think you recognize the area.
If you hear the voices of rescuers while by the fire, do not try to go towards them, especially in twilight conditions. This can be dangerous: you may not be able to see clearly where you are going, and under the influence of emotions, you might stumble and get injured. Stay in place and call out as loudly as you can to let them know you are there. If you do not have the strength to shout, tap on the nearest tree with a stick to attract the rescuers’ attention.
What to do about self-exit:
When your phone died before you called for help, the main thing is to stay calm. If this happened in the first half of the day, try to find your way out on your own. If you have an idea of the map of the area where you got lost, try to remember which major roads, whether highways or railways, or rivers are relatively close to you. Orient yourself with the cardinal directions.
For exiting the forest, so-called linear landmarks can be useful, such as large clearings, power lines, as well as the sounds of roads or railway tracks. If you encounter such landmarks on your way, try to turn back and move along them. If you have not passed any roads or clearings recently and have not heard any sounds, try to recall any notable tree, bush, or rock, return to it, and try to retrace your route in the opposite direction.
A person is unable to move in a straight line without a visual reference in space. In their sensorimotor system, noise accumulates, consisting of various external landmarks, as well as the individual’s own perceptions of their location and direction of movement, which can lead to disorientation.
It is recommended to leave markers for yourself and for those who may be searching for you. For example, you can tie pieces of bandage or torn paper napkins to branches. You can also lay out indicators on the ground made of branches, stones, or pine cones in the shape of arrows.
Wandering in circles
Without a visual reference in space, a person cannot move in a straight line. The trajectory of their movement will not be correct but will rather resemble a circle or arc. While wandering in unfamiliar terrain, a person may initially veer to the right, for example, and then to the left.
When moving through the forest, it is recommended to orient yourself by individual trees, choosing two trees that you think are on the same line. Approach the nearest one, walk around it, turn your back to it, and, orienting yourself towards the second tree, find the next two trees that lie on the same trajectory, and so on.
Survival rules in nature
Water.
The use of water should be economical. Water from natural sources must be disinfected. Your equipment should include special tablets for water purification. If such tablets are not available, water from flowing and standing sources should be filtered (through white sphagnum or peat moss) and boiled. In this case, a metal canteen will come in handy, which can be hung over the fire.
Sleep.
In case it is necessary to spend the night in the forest, it is recommended to find the driest possible spot and create a bed from spruce branches. Ferns can also be used for bedding, as they do not absorb moisture from the ground and help retain heat. To repel insects, wormwood or tansy should be added to the bedding.
It is important to remember that sleeping on bare ground is strongly discouraged, as it increases the risk of catching a cold or developing pneumonia.
If possible, especially in gloomy weather with a chance of rain, a shelter made of branches should be constructed. Even if it is dry and clear during the day, such a shelter will help retain heat at night. A fallen tree trunk can also be used to cover the roof.
Heating and signaling.
Build a fire. During the day, it should produce as much smoke as possible, and at night, it should be as bright as possible. Wet conifer needles, moss, straw, and leaves are good for creating smoke. To ensure the brightness of the fire, dry branches should be laid evenly.
In the absence of matches, fire can be obtained through friction. This method is complex but possible. The most important thing is that the wood is dry. You need to make a tinder nest from materials that are easily ignited by a spark. For example, birch bark or dry grass. Carve a small indentation in a board and place a stick about 50 cm long in the hole. Spin the stick between your palms until a glowing ember appears, which should be immediately transferred to the tinder nest. Then gently blow on the ember to ignite the fire.
It is useful to have flint with you while in the forest, as it is lightweight and does not take up much space.
Regarding food:
In the wild, the easiest animals to hunt are rats, hedgehogs, or hares. The killed animal should be processed immediately: skin it, remove the entrails, and drain the blood. Boiled blood can be used as a food source and as salt. The meat should not be washed, as this can lead to faster spoilage. The removed entrails should not be discarded; they can be used as bait for larger game or as fish bait. Should be stewed the meat or boiled for at least 10 minutes to avoid infections. Snakes, lizards, frogs, and turtles can also be eaten after removing their skin and cutting off their heads.
If there is a body of water nearby, you can try to catch fish. First, inspect the lake or river for fish congregations. Fish usually inhabit areas with vegetation, large rocks, algae, or fallen trees and branches. If a willow is growing nearby, it is a good sign, as its developed root system indicates the presence of fish underwater close to the tree. Fish can be caught with bare hands or by making a spear.
It is not recommended to consume any plants unless you are 100% sure they are edible.
The most common forest plant is nettle, whose leaves contain a significant amount of vitamin C. If you pour boiling water over them, you can obtain the daily requirement of this vitamin. You can also find dandelions in forest clearings, which are rich in calcium, iron, and phosphorus. This complex of elements provides energy for a while. Birch bark, algae, forest nuts, cranberries, clover, and moss can also be used as food.
The consumption of mushrooms without prior thermal processing is categorically unacceptable. Berries can also pose a danger. It should be remembered that with mild poisoning there is a risk of dehydration. This is a much more serious condition than hunger.
Regarding animals
If you notice animals themselves on your way, it is recommended to leave the area. Special caution should be exercised in the spring when many animals have offspring.