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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Wilderness survival/first aid :: First 3 things to do when lost
 
Author Message Text
ockycamper
11/18/2022 02:45PM
 
Older thread but got me thinking. Everyone mentions water, fire starter, shelter. But no one ever mentions comms.


None of our teams go to the BWCA or other areas without some type of Spot/GArmin, or PLB device. We also have a sat phone with us in the BWCA for the general group.


I can't help but wonder how things would turn out differently for those that get lost in BWCA or other areas if they simply had some type of PLB with them, or Sat phone.

So my first three things would be:

1. push the button or call on the Sat phone for help

2. stay put and work on shelter and a fire

3. work on obtaining and filtering water.


 
x2jmorris
06/18/2023 07:38AM
 
I think it really depends on where you are. In the bwca or even Quetico for that matter I always envision getting lost. For those areas I always just think I need water and a direction to nearest road for the Spring through Fall times at least. Winter is another story. But you can probably walk out of the bwca in 2 days time no matter where you really are...I think. So set the direction and walk until you hit the road. Then hopefully someone sees you in the next few days. Even if they don't you should be able to walk close enough to civilization before you starve.
 
x2jmorris
06/22/2023 09:58PM
 
I take my comment back. Walking out in some areas might require too much effort. I think I am going with fire, water, shelter.
 
Canoearoo
01/22/2021 03:11PM
 
I always thought the top 3 things to do is is fire, shelter, water. But I just took the snowmobile safety course and they said it is fire, shelter, signal. And that for me thinking. Maybe they are right. Maybe water is 4th because you could be rescued fast. Or maybe it depends on where you are and time of year? Thoughts?
 
Jaywalker
01/22/2021 06:51PM
 
Context/situation always matter, but in all the courses or tests I've taken, focus on rescue has always been very high. Situations like survival shows like to portray of you being out there and no one is coming to look for you are pretty rare. For a snowmobile club it doesn't surprise me that fire is tops, as it both provides warmth and attracts attention of rescuers. In winter I can see some form of shelter being number 2, as hypothermia can set in in a couple hours. In Minnesota I don't think of water as a big risk as you can go about 3 days without any, and there is a lot around us. In the summer, drinking lake water is not that big a risk. Giardia takes about 7 days or so to set in, and in winter there is usually snow or ice. So I think of getting rescued is the priority, and delaying the factors that will kill you as second if not an immediate threat.


Eager to hear what others would say.