Learn and then teach survival in the Great Outdoors

Learn survival skills for the Great Outdoors, because it may save your life. Teach your children outdoor survival skills, because it may save their lives.

An annual theme for a series of columns in this space is how to survive in the Great Outdoors. No one wants to become lost, but people become lost every year.

Two-way radios

A simple form of communication in the outdoors is the two-way radio. My radio of choice is Motorola. These radios are usually on sale in groups of two, but I have seen them in four packs. They are inexpensive enough for every member of the family to have one.

Remember, the radios are good for line-of-sight only, but they do curve around a hillside a bit. Imagine this: A family of four is going to hike around a lake near their campground. The two children run ahead of the parents as the family enters a 100-yard long clearing.

The children can be seen all the way across, but as they near the far side and are about to enter the woods and go out of sight, the parents radio them to stop. Those radios have paid for themselves.

Use a whistle

Your first step is to teach your children how to prevent becoming lost. They should be issued a whistle, one like a coaches' whistle, which is loud piercing and blaring. The whistle should be on their person whenever they step outside the campsite.

Teach them to never blow the whistle unless there is a problem, not just to blow it for the fun of it. Next provide them with a demonstration. This works best on a windy day, but will work anytime.

Have one of the family walk straight away from the rest of the group and stop at 25 yards. They should yell a word, such as "dad" and then blow the whistle. Both the word and the whistle should be easily heard.

The person should walk another 25 yards and yell the word and blow the whistle again, but, this time, have them turn around, facing away from the group and yell and blow the whistle a second time.

This demonstration should continue at 25-yard intervals. The yelling will be more difficult to hear as the distance increases, but the whistle will continue to be heard from a much greater distance.

Not only will the whistle carry for a longer distance, but a person, no matter how young or old, will not be able to yell as long as they will be able blow the whistle.

Hug a tree

There is a program for youngsters where they are taught to stop and actually hug a tree when they realize they are lost. The hug gives them a bit of comfort and reassurance. Hugging a tree also puts them in one spot, where they are to stay until found.

Adults don't need to hug a tree, unless they want to, but staying in one spot is the rule for people of all ages, just stay in one spot until found.

Gather firewood and start a fire

A person has a job when lost. They are to remain in one spot and keep improving this campsite. Gather firewood and start a fire well before dark. Have enough firewood to keep the fire going all night long.

Prepare a shelter

A simple shelter can be made out of a black garbage bag. Cut the bag carefully down two sides and use the plastic as a covering, such as like a tent. Tie one point to a tree and slope the rest of the bag down, securing the other points to the ground with rope or cord.

Another shelter can be made by finding a log and placing sticks at an angle away from the log. Place debris on those angled sticks and you have a shelter under the sticks and beside the log. There won't be much space, but you don't want much space in order to conserve body heat.

Remember, the first rule when a person realizes she/he is lost is to stop and remain in that spot until found.

Next week: What items should a person carry with them when headed into the Great Outdoors?