Lost In Alabama?

What would you do if you were lost in the woods? What would your thoughts be? How would you get through it? Have you even thought about it, practiced, or prepared for just such a day. If you are like me the answer is no. I feel I have the skills and over the years heard enough stories of lost hunters and how they survived to get me through. Probably not the best plan but what about your children? Would they know what to do? How would they make it? With just a little basic knowledge, a lost night in the woods should just be a minor inconvenience. Without it, it could be a panic sticken, nightmare they may not survive. There are many ways to gain knowledge, train, or practice such situations. You can find all sorts of methods online. Here I am going to give you just a basic acronym. It is STOP. S stands for, you guessed it, stop or sit down. Your child is potentially at their closest point to where he needs to be or where you will begin to search. T stands for think. Your child will need to decide what the course of action will be. Panic must be avoided at all cost. There are no witches, goblins or killer bears out there, nothing that will harm you, unless you panic. When that happens the woods will bite you. So stay calm. You will hear woodland sounds and creatures walking about, none of which are dangerous. O stands for observe. As you are thinking, observe your surroundings. Is shelter near by such as a rocky outcrop or large evergreen tree? Can you find something to signal with? A tin can or two liter bottle shaken with a few pebbles or pennies inside makes a lot of noise. Your voice will give out quickly if you are shouting, so conserve your energy. Now as you have stopped, and are thinking and observing the next step is to start planning and that is our P. If you have the means to start a fire you will need to gather fire wood while light remains. You will want to get your shelter tightened up. Gather shrubs and twigs to sit on as you will not want to lie or sit on the bare ground. Build a wind break, use you head to make this night in the woods just a minor inconveinience. Be sure to remind your children to let you know where they are going and how long they plan to be there. If they become lost, it will be noticed quickly and the search will start much sooner. Remind your children, they will not be in trouble, or punished for an inadvertent misplacement of themselves and it is your expectation they will conduct themselves as little survivors.