Staying Found/Search & Rescue
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Staying Found/Search and Rescue
Educational Goals
Before students begin small group travel during the main section of a course, they should know the basic skills of staying found while traveling independently as well as what to do if they become disoriented or lost.
Key points
Before Students Begin Hiking on Their Own
1. Teach and model consistent use of time control plans. TCP’s are a valuable tool in supervising independent student travel and in organizing searches.
2. Teach that hiking groups need to be self-sufficient and have all the necessary equipment to be comfortable for one or more nights in case they cannot make it to camp on a travel day.
3. Set clear expectations for what students should do if they are lost, delayed or otherwise cannot make it to the designated as planned.
4. If students do not make it to a designated camp for some reasons they are expected to attempt to get there the next afternoon, provided they can figure out where they are on the map.
5. If students are lost and unable to reorient themselves, they should stay put and do what they can to make themselves found.
Getting Found
1. Do not split up, but reasonable efforts need to be made to get re-oriented.
2. Send out scouting parties from camp to attempt to determine location. Scout in groups of 2 or more.
3. If location can be determined with certainty, travel toward the group camp. Stay on established trails, as much as possible.
4. If location cannot be determined stay put.
5. If possible, camp on or near established trails, on the shore of large lakes, or in open meadows. Be visible.
6. Build large smoky fires.
7. Use signal mirrors if separated for several days, aircraft will spot flashes easier.
8. People are most visible when moving through open areas.
9. Lay down brightly colored items in open areas.
Teaching Considerations
Students need to have been taught these principles before they actually use them. Safety of the group should be the foremost consideration. A few carefully chosen stories or role plays might help to convey these principles.
