Lost in the Woods? The First 10 Minutes Matter Most

Most people who die in the wilderness do not die from lack of food. They die from exposure, panic and poor decisions in the first few hours. The good news: those first minutes are the ones you control.

Stop. Think. Observe. Plan.

• Stop – sit down. Do not keep walking in the wrong direction.

• Think – what happened? What do I have? What is the weather doing? How much daylight is left?

• Observe – your surroundings, resources, hazards and your own body.

• Plan – decide your priorities, then act on them.

Get your priorities right: the Rule of Threes

As a rough guide you can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter in harsh conditions, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. The numbers are approximate, but the order is what matters: protection from the weather comes before water, and water before food.

Stay or go?

If someone knows where you are and when you are due back, staying put is almost always the right call: searchers look along your planned route. Move only if your location is unsafe or nobody knows you are missing. That is why the most important piece of survival gear is a trip plan left with someone at home.

Student tip: practise S.T.O.P. on your next hike. Pick a spot, sit down and run through it out loud. It feels silly until the day you need it.

Want to learn this hands-on? See our field courses in Edmundston, NB, or start today with our online courses.