by: Jenny Costelo
SUMMER 1987
Imagine having to spend a night in the woods with no shelter because you became lost; not a pleasant experience, especially if it were very cold, rainy or buggy. this would be a terrifying situation for many adults, let alone a young child. Unfortunately, in the last few years there have been children lost in Nova Scotia's woods. Although most have been found alive, a few have died. Similar tragedies can be prevented in future, if children are provided with some basic woods survival knowledge. This is an important topic to cover with young people, particularly with their access to wooded areas increasing every day. urban sprawl is encroaching on forested land; new subdivisions are being built in the woods, and more parents are camping with children each year. Schools, juvenile service groups (Scouts, Guides, church Camps) and other organizations have already started to disseminate survival information to their charges.
One organization which has taken a keen interest in educating children in woods survival is the Waverley Ground Search and Rescue Club. They obtained an excellent book called, Lost in the Woods - Child Survival by Colleen Politano. And they are presently showing a film based on this book to interested groups throughout the Halifax Metro area. The W.G.S.R. provided the Halifax Police Department with this information and now policemen in the Spryfield area are doing "Woodsproofing" programs in the elementary schools. ms. Politano's book is available in some department stores and drugstores and even without the film, is an excellent teaching tool. Following is a short summary of a successful program I designed and carried out for the Sackville Recreation Department in Lower Sackville, Halifax County.
Most young persons participating in woods survival programs are between the ages of five and ten so the information has to be kept simple, yet with enough impact so they will remember it. Probably the most important point stressed to the children is DON'T PANIC. If a lost individual becomes panicky, the situation can become dangerous.
We urge them to stay calm and sit down to think about the problem.
The children are told not to eat any vegetation unless they can identify the plant (i.e., blueberries, etc.) and to avoid all wildlife. With the possible exception of bear and moose there are no harmful wild animals in Nova Scotia. This point is also stressed. biting insects can drive a person insane during the spring and summer. If lost, they should keep covered with clothes and smear exposed areas of skin with mud. This information prepares the children for the simple message that although one should not get lost in the woods, it doesn't have to be a terrifying experience if panic is avoided and basic rules followed - and this in turn will enable them to be found alive.
But first, how does one not get lost in the woods? Three DON'TS children should remember when playing near wooded areas are:
1. DON'T follow animals (cats, dogs, wildlife, etc.) into the woods.2. DON'T go into the woods with a friend who says he/she knows the way. If your path is not a road or well-beaten trail, you shouldn't be on it.
3. DON'T go past the boundaries that your parents or guardians set for you. They will let you know the areas in which you can play. Don't go beyond these points because they know what's best for you.
Finally, if a child's lost in the woods, what should he/she do? To assist the child's memory, a key word was developed and used in a simple saying:
REMEMBER - STAY S.A.F.E. IF ARE LOST IN THE WOODSS- Stay in one place
A- Always wear a coat and hat
F- Find shelter and, if necessary, build a bed
E- Everyone will be looking for you, so answer any calls
When anyone is lost, the first impulse is to bolt through the woods searching for familiar surroundings. this can lead to fatigue and possible hypothermia. The children are told to stay in one place at all times. this conserves energy and helps searches find them. During the day, a resting spot should be close to an open area where one can be seen by searchers. At night, a sheltered bed can be constructed nearby.
Through interesting experiments Ms. Politano has outlined in her book, the children learned the importance of conserving body heat when lost. this is accomplished by wearing all clothing available (coat, hat, mitts, etc.) and constructing a softwood bed for shelter. When two or more persons are lost, they can huddle close together and use the same bed.
Lying on cold ground will drain heat from the human body, so an insulating mat of forest debris and branches should be constructed by the child. Extra branches can be used for a blanket and for a makeshift roof. this provides some warmth and protection from the elements, plus security and a sense of purpose during construction.
The children are told to assist the searchers as much as possible by answering any calls and remaining highly visible at all times during the day.
Parents can prepare their children for the outdoors in many ways. Ms. Politano suggests footprinting the child with aluminum foil, purchasing bright coloured jackets with hoods and pockets, and providing an emergency pack for a child who is camping or lives near wooded areas. This kit should contain a food snack, whistle, safe reflector (mason jar lid) coloured strips for markers, and an orange garbage bag (rainwear and Primitive tent). Probably the most important contribution parents can make towards their child's safety is establishing boundaries for exploration.
Recently two young girls, while attending an outdoor gym class at an elementary school in Spryfield, wandered into the woods and became lost. Both girls had received instruction in survival techniques during the previous month. They stayed in one place, built a shelter and lay on a bed of dry leaves. Late the same evening, the girls were found. They were shivering (one was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt) but otherwise safe. We hope this scenario will become the norm for other children lost in the woods. As survival education for young persons becomes a priority with more groups and schools, this may be the case.