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Lost Children
Prevention
Tips
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The Hug-A-Tree & Survive Program was
started in California after a search for a nine-year-old boy who died
in the local mountains. A group of the searchers put together an assembly
program designed to tell a simple story that will teach young children
very basic principles for staying safe in the wilderness. The story captures
their interest and is easily remembered.
Here are some tips from the Hug-A-Tree program:
- Hug a tree once you know you are lost. One of the greatest fears a
person of any age can have is of being alone. Hugging a tree or other
stationary object and even talking to it calms the child down, and prevents
panic. By staying in one place, the child is found far more quickly,
and can't be injured in a fall.
- Always carry a trash bag and whistle on a picnic, hike, or camping
trip. By making a hole[1] in the side of the bag for the face, and putting
it on over the head, it will keep the child dry and warm. The whistle
is louder than the childs voice and takes less energy to use.
- My parents won't be angry at me. Time and again children have avoided
searchers because they were ashamed of getting lost, and afraid of punishment.
Anyone can get lost, adult or child. If they know a happy reunion, filled
with love is waiting, they will be less frightened, less prone to panic,
and work hard to be found.
- Make Yourself Big. From helicopters, people are hard to see when they
are standing up, when they are in a group of trees, or wearing dark
and drab clothing. Find your tree to hug near a small clearing if possible.
Wear bright colored clothes when you go near the woods or desert. Lie
down when the helicopter flies over. If it is cool and you are rested,
make crosses or SOS using broken shrubbery, rocks, or by dragging your
foot in the dirt.
- There are no animals out there that want to hurt you. If you hear
a noise at night, yell at it or blow your whistle. If it is an animal
it will run away to protect itself. If it is a searcher, you will be
found. Fears of the dark and of lions and tigers and bears are a big
factor in panicking children into running. They need strong reassurance
to stay put and be safe.
- You have hundreds of friends looking for you. We have children in
the local area of a search tell us, "My parents would never spend
the money to search for me with all these people". Search personnel
are mainly volunteers who work with other professionals who charge nothing
and do it because they care. Many children who are lost don't realize
that if they sit down and stay put, one of the many searchers will find
them. Some are afraid of strangers and people in uniform, and don't
respond to yells. Many have actually hidden from searchers they knew
were looking for them.
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Try to keep them from getting lost in the first place
- which is probably impossible. Children are easily distracted off
the trail, so teach them to stay on the trail. Never let your child
walk trails alone. Pick out a high landmark such as a prominent hill
or note the direction of the sun; this prevents disorientation.
- Admit to yourself when you become lost. It can and does happen to
anyone, yet is a source of shame when it happens. When you become lost,
admit it, accept it, and take actions to be comfortable in the area
when the searchers arrive. Use your head since it is your best survival
tool; you can't lose it
- Call your local law enforcement quickly, if your child is lost. The
search area expands so quickly due to the victim's movements that rapid
response is critically important. A call to law enforcement which is
cancelled gives the searchers practice and helps keep them alert.
- A slow response by law enforcement or search and rescue personnel
is dangerous, especially if bad weather wipes out the track, and exposure
is a consideration.
- Be available for interviewing. Clues which lead to finding the child
in good shape usually come from family and friends who remain on the
scene and talk openly and accurately with the search leader or his representative.
Any personal information will be kept confidential.
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Other Hug-A-Tree Websites and Links.
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