If you find yourself lost in the wilderness (or even if you just can’t find your car at the mall), this simple acronym will help you survive the experience: STOP.

STOP is an acronym we used in Boy Scouts and it stands for Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. First off, stop and relax to get your bearings. If you’re flustered or panicked, you may make bad decisions or hurt yourself as you try to find your way.

Next, think. You may be able to retrace your steps if you remember how you got where you are or you may recognize a simple way out.

Now, observe. Note the position of the sun: if the sun is setting, the sun is in the west, if it’s rising, it should be toward the east. Can you see your footsteps in the dew or soft earth? Can you hear people or dogs barking? If so, follow the sounds to help.

Finally, make sure you plan. Don’t just set off in a particular direction without a plan. If you’re near a stream, you can plan to follow it down toward a larger body of water where you are more likely to find help. Most of all, once you’ve decided on a plan, don’t give up or deviate from the plan. If you set off then decide to turn around, you’ll find yourself even more lost and worried than when you started out. At the very least you can plan to stay where you are to make it more likely that a rescue team can find you (a stationary person is easier to find than one that is moving from place to place).

Related posts:

1. 9-year Old Survives Using Tips from Man vs. Wild TV Show
2. Getting lost on a hike

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pm and is filed under outdoor tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.