What to do when you get lost, and how dangerous is getting lost while traveling abroad?
What to do when you get lost, and how dangerous is getting lost while traveling abroad?
When do you get lost while traveling or abroad?
- You're lost when you no longer know where you are and don't know how to get to your destination or how to return to your starting point.
- You've usually been lost for a while before you realize you're lost.
- When there are people around, getting lost is relatively easy to resolve. However, in more remote areas, you're on your own, and it can lead to a dangerous situation.
- Getting lost in the city can be dangerous in certain neighborhoods, especially in the evening.
- In a natural environment, getting lost is particularly dangerous when water is scarce (desert, savanna, outback Australia) or when it is or could become very cold (high mountains, tundra, desert).
How do you avoid getting lost abroad?
- When you arrive in a new environment, prepare your route well. How many kilometers will you cover? What intermediate destinations will you encounter? What are the landmarks? For example, check for hideouts or emergency shelters in case the weather changes.
- Most people navigate these days using electronic devices with digital maps. Make sure you have fully charged batteries, a backup battery, or a power bank.
- In addition to digital navigation, provide at least basic orientation using a physical map. You wouldn't be the first to drop your GPS or smartphone in the river.
- Try to collect landmarks. These landmarks make it easier to turn back if you forget your route ahead. High landmarks in the direction of your destination can also help you find your way forward.
- Look back regularly; if you can't see the route behind you, the chances of finding your way back are slim.
- Keep an eye on the time. For example, if you expect to walk an hour to a landmark and you've already been walking for 90 minutes, it's time to start worrying. The sooner you realize you're lost, the less lost you'll be.
- If you've packed enough water, food, and survival gear (such as a first aid kit, matches, a pocket knife, a headlamp, and a survival blanket), you'll be less likely to panic and can stay lost longer without serious consequences.
- Learn the basic navigation skills you need. Using a compass, in particular, takes some practice.
- Let people know your plan and write your name and route in shelters and mountain huts. If you do get lost, people are more likely to look for you and start searching from the right place.
What should you do if you find yourself lost abroad, and how can you ensure you can be found?
- STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan.
- Don't panic: try to stay calm and consider your next move. Stay where you are until you've calmly considered your options and your situation.
- Beware of false landmarks: your mind tends to recognize things, even if you've never been somewhere before. This phenomenon can give you the false impression that you're going in the right direction, but also lead you to believe you're going in circles.
- The way back is almost always the best way. If you can see the path back, follow it until you're no longer lost.
- Be aware that, if you lack landmarks, you'll naturally walk in circles, while your intuition tells you to go straight ahead.
- Check the time and the position of the sun. Make sure you have the best possible shelter for the night before dark. This depends heavily on the landscape in which you're lost.
- Hopelessly lost in nature? Follow the water downstream. The larger a river becomes, the greater the chance you'll encounter people. Rescue workers are also more likely to search for you along rivers than in the middle of the forest.
- Leave tracks to let those searching for you know you've passed by somewhere.
- Build a campfire when night falls. It keeps wild animals at bay and makes you visible to search teams.
Tip: In an area with other people, but where you'd rather not ask, follow the general direction of the crowd. This way, you'll often end up at central locations, train or bus stations, and from there you can pick up your route again.
