With more people than ever venturing into the outdoors, the incidence of search-and-rescue operations has also soared. The mindset is that “I’m only going for a day hike” or “I’ve hunted this area for years, it won’t happen to me.” Or it’s nice down here on the Front Range no matter how bad can it get in a few hours.
What happens when your good luck runs out on a day hike? You’re a ways from your vehicle, and the weather takes a drastic change as it likes to do in Colorado’s high country. You get a drenching of rain, along with a stiff breeze and a temperature drop. Did I mention your GPS batteries are dead? You are lost, very cold, and wet and possibly even injured after a fall. Now the sun is dropping close to the horizon. What’s the first thing you should do?
Much of what you should do will depend on a few variables and how well you’ve planned. If you have a phone and any kind of mobile phone service in that area, you could obviously call or text for help. This could get you rescued that evening. If you know that help is on the way, you could build a fire to warm yourself and the light will visually assist your SAR unit.
But let’s say that you don’t have a phone signal, didn’t bring the phone, or it ran out of battery life. Did you tell someone where you were going and when you’d return? With a safety net like that in place, you may still get rescued late that night if the local SAR teams can mobilize quickly. If properly prepared, you could build a makeshift shelter to block the wind and try to start a fire, both for warmth and also as a phenomenal signal beacon.
But what if you’re lost and no one else knows where you are? You might be in it for the long haul.
You could be out there for days before you are able to self-rescue or help finds you. In this scenario, many experts will say you need shelter, fire, signalling and probably water. While it will vary with conditions and physical exertion, most people will be able to last for a few days at most without any water to drink. Food is the final piece of the puzzle. It’s possible for the average person to last several weeks without food, but the impact of hunger can be felt very quickly, especially in the cold. My experience is that food is a plus but far down the list of importance in most search-and-rescue operations.
Not all survival experts agree on the priorities of what to do and what you need with you to keep an inconvenience from turning into a tragedy. I have gleaned my information from my decades of personal experience and interaction with many of the top survival experts in the country. This past Saturday, Nick Clement from Endure Survival Kits joined me on my radio show to compare notes on outdoor survival.
One thing we immediately agreed on was that planning and preparation are the biggest keys to surviving an outdoor incident. The first key is proper clothing. The one thing that virtually all experts agree on is cotton kills, or at least, could lead to hypothermia if you rely on it as your primary base layer in cold weather. It’s a great fabric to wear around the house, and it has great applications in hot, dry climates. But once cotton gets wet, it loses its insulating properties.
Probably the most important thing you can do is always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will return. If you change plans, notify someone. To get to you in time, search and rescue needs to know where to start looking.
If you can afford one, you should always take a GPS unit with you into the backcountry. These high-tech navigational tools are easy to use, and more important, they always let you know where you are. But they aren’t a fail-safe against getting lost. If you misplace or break the unit, or your batteries die, you’d better have a map and compass (and the knowledge to use them) as a backup.
Rules for Survival
1. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. If you change your general area, tell someone of that change.
2. If possible, don’t go alone. Unavoidable accidents do happen.
3. Wear proper clothing and bring proper equipment, keeping in mind that the weather can and will change.
4. If you do get lost or stranded, stay put. We will find you if you have followed rule No. 1.
5. Learn how to use a compass, take a map of the area and orient yourself thoroughly before your trip.
6. Always carry a survival kit and know how to use it. Make sure it contains the three essentials; shelter, fire, signaling. It should also contain water purification.
7. If you do get lost or injured remember STOP; Stay put, Think, Observe and Plan
Personally, I put fire at the top of my priority list. Shelter can be the most important, but except in extreme conditions, if you have dressed properly and have something as basic as a large plastic bag to put over you, building a shelter can wait. I firmly believe a reliable way to start a fire will save more lives than almost any other resource. When most people realize they are in trouble, panic sets in. They do not react rationally. Building a fire not only gives you warmth and signaling, but it helps you stay put and provided emotional comfort. It encourages you to calm down and assess your situation.
For information on Endure Survival Kits follow the link.
To hear my entire interview with Nick Clement, click on the link.
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