Lost in the wilderness

Before you head out on a hike, check the weather, take plenty of water, and make sure someone knows where you’ll be and when you’ll be back. Bring clothes to keep you warm when wet, like a water-repellent jacket, says Laurence Gonzales, author of Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why. Avoid cotton, which traps moisture. “The search-and-rescue people call it ‘death cloth,’” he says. Pack an emergency kit with items such as waterproof matches, a plastic tarp and cord for making a shelter, a blanket, a good knife, a flashlight, batteries, and snacks. Expect to get lost, says John Dill, a search-and-rescue ranger at Yosemite National Park in California. Check constantly to make sure you’re on the trail, and stop immediately if you suspect you strayed.

In general, people who try to find their own way out fare worse than those who stay put, says emergency medicine specialist Richard N. Bradley, MD. Find shelter before dark, and try to keep dry. If you’re stranded in your car, stay there: You’re more visible to rescuers, and the car provides shelter. Catch the eye of search parties by making a signal with colorful gear, making a big X out of rocks, or digging a shallow trench, says Dill. You can go several days without eating, so in most cases, you’re better off not foraging for food, since there are lots of poisonous plants in the wild, says Dr. Bradley. You need to stay hydrated, so if you run out of water, it’s usually better to drink from a stream with suspect water than to go without.