How not to become a hostage of the forest?

Our region is rich in forests. When going for a walk or a hike in the forest, people often forget about basic safety measures and get lost.

Thus, on August 14 at 11:03, the operational control center of the Postavy District Department of Emergency Situations received a message from a man stating that his family was lost in the forest, near the village of Vorony, Novoselkovsky Rural Council. During the clarification of the circumstances, it was established that the lost individuals went into the forest to pick mushrooms, where they got lost after some time. Rescuers and police went to the presumed location. Communication with the lost individuals in the forest was maintained throughout the rescue operation. At 12:45, the lost individuals were found by employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (the lost individuals came out to the sound). They did not require medical assistance.

To prevent this misfortune from happening to you, you need to follow simple rules:

· Before going into the forest, inform your relatives where you are going and for how long. If you do not return by the appointed time, they will definitely start looking for you.

· Take everything you need, namely: a compass, a knife, matches, salt, a small food ration, light spare clothes. Pack matches and clothes in polyethylene so that they do not get wet in case of rain. Grab a handful of lollipops. They will help to suppress hunger if you get lost.

· You should wear bright clothes! And, of course, you should wear something on your head (ticks can fall from small trees and bushes), long pants (you might have to push through bushes), and comfortable shoes.

· Look around the area. Before entering the forest, find out where the main landmarks are: roads, rivers, streams, settlements, in order to schematically imagine the boundaries of the area you will be walking in. Determine the cardinal directions with a compass to know which way to return.

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET LOST:

· do not panic, do not split into groups, stay together;

· stop moving, calm down;

· retrace your steps to the place where you went off track;

· if you don't have a map, try to roughly draw a map of the area on paper, fabric, or bark in the form of a diagram;

· develop a plan of action: continue moving or wait for help;

· determine the cardinal directions and your location;

· remember that notches on trees will lead to a path or dwelling.

Remember: You will definitely be searched for, but your rescue largely depends on your competent behavior in the forest!

Reminder: in case of any emergency, you must immediately call the rescue service at 101 or 112.