Resources
Emergency response procedures - lost
Appropriate planning, preparation, organisation and management should remove or minimise the likelihood of anyone becoming lost during an outdoor activity. However, as a precautionary measure in locations where there is potential for participants to become lost, the following procedures should be considered in the planning and preparation.
Note: 'Lost' is defined as not just a navigational error, which could be confidently rectified given some time and effort, but total disorientation to the point of having no idea about one's actual location.
In the event of becoming lost
For remote areas – stay put:
- Conserve energy and body heat (that is, make yourself warm and comfortable and await help).
- Seek a sheltered spot, preferably away from running water (noise interferes with signals and voices).
- Ration food and water in case help is delayed.
Increase your visibility:
- Display something bright, such as coloured clothing, tent or backpack.
- A smoky fire is one of the most useful means of attracting the attention of searchers. However, lighting a fire can be extremely dangerous in some circumstances and should only be lit if the group is confident it can manage a fire safely.
- Flash a torch or mirror.
- Use of a whistle-giving three short blasts at regular intervals. Searchers will use two short blasts in response if they hear the missing walkers.
- In order to conserve torch batteries and energy, only use a torch or whistle when searchers are heard or are likely to be nearby.
For areas with well-defined boundaries, use a self-recovery strategy:
- Head to a named feature. (Give students a description, such as 'the dirt track on the south of the course', and name the feature, for example, ‘McMillan's track’. Have this feature written on the back of the map, as students tend to forget and become overloaded with too many verbal directions.)
- Use a whistle to attract attention.
- Be alert for supervising adults who will be roving or at a designated location.
- Remain calm. (Students who are overdue need to be confident that there is a search procedure in place - refer Search procedure for lost students)
More information
For more information about lightning emergency management, see: