Surviving when you do get lost involves a little preparation. Always, always make sure you have the backpacking 10 essentials with you when you go out hiking or backpacking:<ul><li>Water purifier</li><li>Extra food and bottled water</li><li>Firestarter (matches/lighter)</li><li>First Aid Kit</li><li>Emergency shelter (e.g. a tarp or bivvy)</li><li>Extra Insulation (emergency blanket or extra clothes)</li><li>Flashlight/Headlamp</li><li>Navigation tools (e.g. compass, personal location beacon, maps)</li><li>Sun Protection</li><li>Repair kit & Tools (duct tape and multi-tool are a great combo)</li></ul>

Always Bring The 10 Essentials

Survival experts recommend that people who are lost in mountains or forests travel downhill. In most wildlife areas, it should take you no more than 20 hours of walking downhill to reach a town or city, or at least a road or established trail.Since most cities in the past were built near bodies of water, it’s likely you’ll come across other humans once you reach the stream’s source by heading in a downhill direction towards a valley. Not only are you more likely to come across civilization by walking downhill, it’s also easier on your body and will save you energy.

Travel Downhill

If you have made the decision to wait out and be rescued then the first priority is locating a reliable water source nearby without wandering too far off.If you can’t find a stream or lake, consider hanging out a tarp to collect rainwater. While quite intensive, you can also use a piece of clothing to collect morning dew off plants and trees and wring the H2O out into a suitable container.

Find Some Water

Around 2,000 people get lost in the woods every year. We all believe we’re not going to be one of those unfortunate souls…but none of us can ever be 100 percent sure.Here are some survival strategies you need to know to avoid getting into this precarious situation in the first place. But before getting into the nitty-gritty, take a look at the dos and don’ts every hiker or backpacker should memorize.

Getting Lost In The Woods

If you’re not too experienced with hiking or backpacking, there’s no shame in scheduling a tour with a guide, which is also a great way to learn the ropes before venturing out on your lonesome.While this tip is optional for easier hiking treks, it’s a requirement for all other times. There are plenty of websites where you can book guided hiking tours around the world, so there’s no excuse for going it alone in areas out of your comfort zone.

Travel With A Guide

Once you realize you’re lost, the first things you need to do are stop, relax, and think about your situation carefully. Excessive anxiety will only cloud your judgment and drain your energy. The STOP method helps you remember what to do after you realize you’re lost. These letters stand for: “stay calm,” “think,” “observe,” and “plan.”A few questions you should address are: How did I get here? How long will my food and water last me? Where’s the closest river or stream? Where should I set up shelter? What’s the weather like? How long till it gets dark? How’s my health?

What To Do IF You Get Lost In The Woods

Food is important for giving you the energy you need to create and maintain your shelter, or to hike out to safety. Take stock of the food you’ve brought with you and work out how to stretch out your supply for as long as possible.Reserve your energy only for necessary tasks. With more energy in reserve, you’ll naturally require less food to survive.Whenever hunger cravings overwhelm your mind, just slow down, relax, and remember that humans can survive three weeks without food. After a few hours, your mind should become significantly less stressed.

Hunger

Make sure you are ready to signal potential rescuers. This could take many forms, such as blowing a whistle, flashing a mirror (or shiny metallic object) or even spelling “help” on the ground in an open area.If lost in the mountains, you should use the appropriate signals to alert mountain rescue planes or helicopter teams.

Signalling To The Rescuers

This is a great tip if you’re a beginner. It’s an even better idea to stay close to your home on your first hiking adventure. While it might not be as exciting as heading deep into the wilds, this is a great way to learn basic navigation skills in a safe environment.

Travel In Open Areas Or Popular Tourist Destinations

Please remember to tell all your relations about your trip and carry your essential travel gear with you on the trail. These two preventative tips, along with the strategies listed above, could well prove critical in “surviving to tell the tale.”

The Bottom Line

Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for any and all traces of humans. Whether it’s some trash left behind by a non-practitioner of LNT, a trail or pathway, camping sites, or the sounds of people talking.If you can’t determine your location or navigate your way back to civilization, then you are best to STAY PUT and await rescue. While waiting for help to arrive, you should be aware of the biggest risks that you are likely to face and how to effectively handle them.

Stay Put If In Doubt

You should know how to read scales on a map. The most common map is 1:25,000, which means one centimeter on the map translates to 250 meters on the ground. You should also be able to identify features on the map and understand contouring, both of which can help you navigate terrain safely.Figure out how to use a real compass. Invest in a high-quality compass you feel comfortable with and learn how to use it before your hike.

Learn Basic Navigation With A Map And Compass

The most important thing before going on a hike is to let friends and family know where you’re going and for how long. Leave them a map of your planned route and any other pertinent information about your trip, i.e. direction of travel, parking location. This way, if you don’t return within the timeframe you’ve provided, then your loved ones can alert the authorities. Don’t get caught up in the mythos of the “rugged explorer.” Letting others know your whereabouts is a sign of maturity and it’s critical for your safety.

How To NOT Get Lost In The Woods: Tell Your Loved Ones Where You Are Headed

Now that you know the greatest risks to your safety, it’s time to learn how to keep yourself going while waiting on help while out in the wild.You need a cool head now more than ever. If you’ve never practised meditation before, now is as good a time as any to begin. Sit down and notice your in-breath and out-breath for 15 to 30 minutes. It takes about 30 mins or so for adrenaline to be broken down in your body. Allowing yourself this time to calm down will allow you to think much more clearly again.

Surviving While Awaiting Rescue: Stay Calm

Don’t walk around aimlessly for hours on end. Always think through your strategy before wasting your energy. You really need to watch how much energy you exert if you don’t have a huge food supply.When you need a break, then sit back, drink some water, eat something, get in your sleeping bag, and rest. Some hikers find it’s better to take catnaps throughout the day instead of sleeping all through the night. This is especially the case if you have trouble falling asleep in the woods after dusk.

Don't Burn Yourself Out

Once your mind is calm, observe your surroundings and try to get an idea where you’re located. Try and mentally retrace your steps. If it is safe to do so, then climb to the highest elevation possible to better assess your location. If such a venture will take significant time or energy, or you don’t feel confident in undertaking it, then DO NOT attempt it. Simply STAY PUT.

Pinpoint Your Location

You can only survive three days without water. This timeframe, however, could be even shorter if you’re hiking in humid environments. On most trips, you’ll likely have brought H2O with you, but packing a water purifier such as the lifestraw could help save your life by allowing you to drink safely from wild water sources. Alternatively, if you have brought a stove or are adept at making fires, then boiling H2O from a stream will also make it safe to drink.

Dehydration

The onset of hypothermia is usually gradual, so you have to watch yourself carefully before the debilitating symptoms take hold of you.Hypothermia produces symptoms such as extreme shivering, weakened pulse, delirium, and poor balance. It’s far easier for you to contract hypothermia at night, especially if you’re in an area that’s damp.If you feel your temperature dropping, remove any wet clothes you have on because these only increase your risk of developing hypothermia. Use your emergency blanket and light a fire nearby to provide external heat. You can also drink warm water.

What To Do If You Get The Shivers

Cramps are an early warning sign that you’re dehydrated. As these symptoms appear, try to find a shaded area and drink purified water.Once you start to experience symptoms like nausea, clammy hands, or a fast pulse, you must lie down in the shade, sip a drink slowly, and sprinkle cool water all over your face and body.Finally, to avoid sunburn and eye damage, a container of high-grade sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses are musts if you’re hiking in high temps or areas where you’ll be exposed to the sun.

Heat Exhaustion

In order to effectively ward off hypothermia, you need to create a reliable source of fire and find a good shelter. Besides a cave (uninhabited, of course), the best shelter for a cold night in the woods is a tent. If you don’t have a tent and can’t find a safe cave, then try to set up camp near fallen trees or by rock outcroppings.Anyone who doesn’t have an emergency tent with them can build a makeshift tent out of other materials like a tarp or a poncho. You’ll need to tie a rope or place a branch between two nearby trees before draping your tarp over.

Make A Shelter

Do's:<ul><li>Tell someone at home where you’re going beforehand.</li><li>After you realize you’re lost, follow the STOP protocol and prioritize your needs.</li><li>Travel downhill and follow streams towards possible human habitations.</li><li>Stay in open areas and use all signalling devices at your disposal.</li><li>Consider buying a satellite phone if venturing frequently into service-free areas</li></ul>Don’ts:<ul><li>Panic – establish an escape or action plan and follow it strategically</li><li>Deplete your energy running around without a coherent plan.</li><li>Ignore symptoms of serious conditions like hypothermia and heat exhaustion.</li></ul>

Do's And Don'ts

Here's what you need to know to survive in these extreme situations

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Survival Tips

Would you know what to do if you get lost in the woods, mountains, or wilderness? Make sure to plan for the best, yet prepare for the worst with our practical survival guide.

You would think it inconceivable in our modern age that it could be possible to get lost in the woods, however, it still happens to around 2000 people annually. Find out how to not to become part of that statistic with our guide.

What to do if you get lost in the woods

Prominent researchers have analyzed the pros and cons of TikTok as a channel for receiving medical advice - specifically when it comes to lower back pain.It is found that social media is useful and important in the medical sphere: awareness.First-person confessional content by influencers on TikTok can raise awareness for those who may have experienced similar situations, which can have a comforting or eye-opening effect.

Benefits Of Health Advice On TikTok

<ul><li>Seek out and engage with content that references reputable institutional sources.</li><li>If what you are hearing or seeing is reputable, you’re going to see it in reputable publications.</li><li>Mainstream publications that have large volume.</li><li>Medical publications or channels that are geared towards providing unbiased clinical information.</li></ul>

Research Regarding The Content

Just because a theory or medical occurrence isn't yet integrated into mainstream medicine doesn't mean it's wrong or incorrectViewers can be susceptible to inaccurate medical advice on these digital channels when they are experiencing pain that is not getting better, haven't visited a doctor, and continue to cycle through these videos in the hope of an answer for healing

Challenges of Health Advice on Social Media

Shorter formats make it harder to discuss complex, nuanced topics and answer difficult health questionsRed Flags Extremes:<ul><li>Quick fixes</li><li>Substance intake</li><li>Aesthetic</li><li>Language</li></ul>Content beginning or ending with a disclaimer encouraging viewers to see or consult with a medical professional is a safer bet.

TikTok And Facebook: The Platform Matters

<ul><li>Social media can serve as a powerful medium to get a message out or educate a group of people</li><li>It can break down barriers by making information accessible, but discernment is necessary.</li><li>Although it may seem like scary territory, these questions surrounding online medical advice and nuanced conversations aren't new.</li><li>Today, the methods of communication and vessels for these types of messages just look a bit different.</li></ul>

Social Media and Medical Health Advice

<ul><li>While general advice can be helpful, your physician knows your history and the other factors attached to your personal health.</li><li>Everything has to be put into context as it pertains to your individual case, because healthcare is individualized.</li><li>Bring any information you've come across or want to integrate into your own life to your next visit.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Be discriminating in who puts the advice up.</li><li>If it's a medically licensed professional, find out what organization they belong to and see what their background is, what their area of expertise is, and what other official information is out there on what they know.</li><li>Seek out other medical professionals' content to see what the majority is saying.</li></ul>

Find Out The Source

There’s a slew of medical tips and takes floating around social network platforms. Find out how to differentiate real advice from risky tips.

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Can You Trust Social Media for Health Advice?

Playfulness should be viewed as a skill that can be developed, harnessed and used for mindfulness.

Proyer suggests listing three moments at the end of every day where something spontaneous happened. It could be a funny interaction with a stranger while getting your coffee or a joke shared with your colleague. This will help you to begin to feel confident in being playful and make you more aware of joy in your everyday life.

Start by observing

While some adults might feel the need to hide their playfulness, the market for video games and mobile gaming among adults has boomed in recent years.The mental health benefits of playing video games down to achieving a state of "flow".The optimal experience when nothing else matters and is also experienced by athletes and sportspeople when they are in the zone. Playing to find the flow state can provide an enjoyable challenge and distraction from mental health issues, meaning the player can work on their wellbeing without feeling pressured to improve.

Video Game as Adult therapy

Do not be afraid to find fun in something not normally associated with adults.In order for adults to engage in playful activities guilt-free, they can come prepared with socially acceptable "excuses". Eg: The Mindfulness Coloring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons which aims to make the embarrassing act of adult colouring socially acceptable when associated with the "alibi" of it being therapy for successful people.

Socially acceptable excuses

Adults who demonstrate more playful personality traits are more motivated, creative, and spontaneous. There have even been links between people with more playful characteristics having lower blood pressure. While less playful people struggle in their leisure time to relax and often feel bored when their minds are not preoccupied, those that are more playfully inclined are aware of new opportunities and open to trying a wider variety of activities.

Playing Games is good

Rediscover the benefits of playfulness after the toys have been put away.

Playing has been shown to improve the mental health of adults, but most people stop in childhood. How can we rediscover the benefits of playfulness after the toys have been put away?

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Why adults should embrace their playfulness

It's doubtful that the first product or service you develop will be precisely what potential customers want. Failure fuels new projects. It is a way to figure out what customers don't want. Most of the time, the innovations an organisation brings to the market is not immediately adopted. Of course, you will have early adopters, but most customers prefer to wait.

Failure moves projects forward

<ol><li>Your core audience starts to spread to word. You've built the network effect into your offering so that it works better when people tell their friends and colleagues. For example, Twitter and the ice bucket challenge.</li><li>Your success at serving this small but viable audience gives you the team, cash flow, and social proof to find a different set of customers.</li></ol> The hard work of customer development is finding a reason for your customers to bring new customers.

Growth comes from two places

The paradox: Organisations need to be agile and willing to pivot as they engage with an invisible or sceptical market. But, at the same time, ideas don't spread through a market at once. That is why it is important to identify your smallest viable audience. By seeing them and serving them, you can refine your product while establishing conditions for growth.

The smallest viable audience

Organisations grow when they develop a base of customers. Businesses profits and political ideas become movements because they built and shaped a group of people by what they do. This is the most important thing an organisation does and the only part you can't outsource.

Growing a customer base

A collection of Insights from marketing mogul's best books, blogs and videos

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The parts of the pyramid:<ul><li>Intention is the base of the pyramid and the most important.</li><li>Retention comes next. Existing customers are worth more than new ones.</li><li>Remarkability. The conversations that happen because of your work. People will only talk about your work because they believe it will help their goals.</li><li>Permission. The privilege of delivering personal and relevant messages to the people who want them. This is a future asset.</li><li>Tactics, words, and images. What is your narrative that engages with people? Where is their status? What sort of affiliation do they desire?</li></ul>

Modern marketing pyramid

In most pyramids, the top gets the attention, but the foundation is most important. In marketing, the base of the pyramid is INTENTION. Intention comes with design thinking.<ul><li>Who is it for/what is it for?</li><li>Have you identified the smallest viable audience and built a product that works wonderfully for this audience?</li><li>Your story is linked with your intention. A story works when it becomes your audience's story.</li></ul>

What to do if you get lost in the woods

Can You Trust Social Media for Health Advice?

Why adults should embrace their playfulness

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

Customer development

CURATED BY

What to do if you get lost in the woods

Can You Trust Social Media for Health Advice?

Why adults should embrace their playfulness

It's time to Read like a Pro.

Customer development

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.