If you get lost, know that “panic is your greatest enemy,” the Forest Service says.
If the weather’s cold, cotton clothing wouldn’t be ideal because wet cotton won’t dry well and therefore won’t keep you warm, Townes said. In addition to the clothing listed above for warmth, you’ll also want to make sure you’re dressed for the elements. – Duct tape, knife, screwdriver and scissors – Waterproof matches, lighters and fire starters – Lightweight shelter, if possible, such as a bivy sack, tarp or one-person tent – Insulation (an emergency blanket, jacket, hat, gloves, waterproof rain shell, thermal underwear) – First aid kit including disinfectants, tourniquets, bandages and aluminum splints – Nonperishable, nutritionally valuable foods such as dried fruits or nuts, energy bars or beef jerky – Water and water-purifying tablets or drops That includes exactly where you’re going, whether and how many other people are going, the vehicle you’re taking, the trail you plan to follow and when you’ll return, the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service advises.ĭepending on where you’re going, you should pack these essentials that could help prevent or alleviate emergencies: Once you have planned your trip, give someone all the important details. Also, regardless of the time of year, always look at the weather forecast – from several days beforehand up until the day of. Both can tell you about any need-to-knows regarding trail quality, animal presence, water accessibility, maps and more. Here’s what experts want you to know about how you should plan ahead for a safe trip and address worst-case scenarios:īefore you go, research your chosen destination by looking online and/or talking to locals familiar with the site, Townes said. But if you ever do become stranded in the wild like these people did, being prepared can be the deciding factor in whether you return to safety or suffer serious injury, illness or death. “If you can avoid getting into trouble, then that’s obviously the most successful strategy,” he said. David Townes, a professor of emergency medicine and adjunct professor of global health at the University of Washington.įor adventurers who seek outdoor challenges, “the common theme is that they’ve underestimated what they plan to do and, tied in with that, nearly overestimated their own abilities,” Townes said. Christoph Schmidt/picture alliance/dpa/Getty Imagesįor those who didn’t intend to go into the wilderness, accidents – such as taking a wrong turn or a car breakdown – or severe weather changes can be the culprit, said Dr. Two brothers clean their cooking equipment in a stream during a survival course in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Mainhardt, Germany, in June 2020.
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