Lifetimetv.com: What Should You Do?

GETTING LOST IN THE WILDERNESS

Last year, more than 1,000 hikers got lost in the U.S. alone and more than two dozen didn't make it home alive. Remember that in the wilderness you need warmth, water, shelter and food to survive. Be prepared:

» If you're lost, stay in one place and signal for help.

» Bring a survival pouch with you; it should contain the following: a daylight flare; a strobe light; waterproof matches; a compass; a Mylar blanket; a first-aid kit; food; water; and map of the area.

» You can use fire to call for help. Smoke is best seen in the daytime and fire is most visible at night. Use pine or wet wood for a smoky fire and drier wood for a cleaner burning blaze.

» Create a signaling fire in a cleared-out area; it should actually consist of three separate fires forming a triangle — the international distress signal for help.

» If you have a flashlight, signal three short beams, then three long ones, then 3 short ones — that's Morse code for SOS. (A camera flash may work as well.)

» For more information, consult the U.S. Forest Service Web site. Another helpful site worth consulting:

Survival Basics

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