Chapter 4.1

1. Chapter 4.1 Safety in the Woods

2. Common Sense is key • Always tell someone where you are going. • Buddy System – Never go alone. • Check equipment before you leave. • Choose proper clothing – most heat is lost through your head – take a hat. • Take garbage bags – can prevent hypothermia.

3. Safety tips • Wool vs. Cotton – Cotton is fine for warm weather. Wool is better for cold weather – should cotton become wet it takes a long time to dry and speeds up the loss of body heat. • Fires – build it on dirt, sand, etc. Make sure it is out when you leave. • Swimming – check for hidden obstacles, avoid currents, never swim alone. • Whistle – carry a whistle, three long blasts indicated distress.

4. Safety tips • Poisonous plants – be able to recognize them. Use strong soap and then rubbing alcohol. • Wildlife – avoid wild animals – do not get too close. • Bears • Never store food in tent • Store/carry food in air tight containers • Don’t bury garbage • Hang food/toothpaste out of reach of bears • Stay away from all bears – mother and cubs • Make noise to make presence known • Recognize bear signs

5. Basic survival rules • Hypothermia – when the body loses heat faster than it produces it. Happens when a person is exposed to rain, wind and cold without adequate clothes and shelter. • Don’t Panic – accept that you are lost and concentrate on getting yourself in a better position. Try to be positive. • Avoid Fatigue – slow down. Exertion uses up calories and creates perspiration – hypothermia.

6. Basic survival skills • Stay where you are – don’t try to walk to safety unless you know where you are going, have sufficient clothes/food/clothing. • Shelter – create shelter with trees, etc. This creates warmth – although you want to try to stay visible so rescuers can see you. • Water – more important than food – dehydration can cause fatigue and hypothermia. • Fire – one of the best survival tools. Keeps you warm, dries clothes and signals for help.

7. Basic survival kit • Matches in waterproof container • Plastic food bags • Orange/yellow garbage bag • High energy snack • Whistle • Pocket knife • Compass • Light weight space blanket • Reflector/mirror for signaling • Bug spray • Antibiotic ointment • Band-aids

8. Survival tips for children • Stay in one place. • Yell scary noises to scare animals and alert searchers. • Look big – lie down in a clearing wearing bright clothing or an orange garbage bag. • No punishment – no one will punish children if they get lost. Sometimes children will hide from searchers because they are afraid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV5ShSNIdfY