| An ounce of prevention is worth a pound
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| | they're available, try using evergreen
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| of cure and that saying goes double when
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| | boughs, which will produce a thick, dark
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| you're planning a trip into the great
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| | smoke sure to catch someone's attention.
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| outdoors. One of the best things you can
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| | Another way to signal for help is to
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| do for yourself is to leave word with
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| | signal to low-flying aircraft. Using a
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| someone before you leave about where you
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| | mirror reflecting the sunlight, you can
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| will be going and at what time you plan
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| | flash the S-O-S symbol at low-flying
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| to return.
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| | aircraft. Avoid flashing the mirror
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| Should you find yourself stranded in the
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| | directly at the cockpit, as that will
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| outdoors, the key to your rescue is your
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| | cause the pilot to have difficulty
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| ability to create good signals for
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| | seeing. At night or in times when there
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| potential rescuers to see. The first
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| | is not a lot of sunlight, the same affect
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| thing you should do is light a fire. A
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| | can be accomplished using a strong
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| large fire creates a signal in the
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| | flashlight. Always carry a flashlight and
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| daylight and darkness of night. At night,
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| | extra batteries when venturing outdoors.
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| choose kindling for a fire that does not
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| | If none of these techniques work, use
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| create a lot of smoke.
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| | brightly-colored clothing to attract
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| Create three fires in the outline of a
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| | attention. Hang a bright scarf or coat
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| triangle, because if these are seen from
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| | from the top of a high tree, or arrange
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| the air they will be recognized as the
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| | clothing in a pattern on the ground to
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| symbol for distress, and will be less
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| | draw attention from the air. Do not leave
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| likely to be mistaken for a simple
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| | yourself too vulnerable to the elements
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| campfire. When choosing the location for
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| | by removing too much clothing though.
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| your fire, make sure it is an open
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| | You can even create signals using natural
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| location without a lot of foliage
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| | materials, such as tree branches or
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| blocking the view. Also, have water on
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| | rocks, that can be viewed from the air.
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| hand should the fire spread beyond your
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| | Try spelling out S-O-S or HELP with rocks
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| control. A raging forest fire would
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| | or branches. Remember to use a material
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| endanger your life and make rescue
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| | that will stand in contrast to your
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| impossible.
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| | surroundings. If there is snow on the
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| If there is an isolated tree nearby, you
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| | ground, walk in the snow to form the
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| can create a tree torch by setting it on
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| | letters, and fill in the path with dark
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| fire. If it is a pitch-bearing tree, you
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| | material, like rocks or tree branches.
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| simply have to ignite the tree. If it is
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| | Creativity is the key. Use whatever
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| not pitch bearing, pile dry kindling
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| | resources you have available to create
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| around the tree and ignite it. The
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| | something that is out of the ordinary in
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| kindling fire will spread to the foliage
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| | the surrounding landscape. The idea is to
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| of the tree. Keep your tree torch burning
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| | get any observers to stop and take a
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| by adding to it as it consumes the tree.
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| | closer look. Safety is still the ultimate
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| Keep the home fires burning; you'll need
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| | goal, though. You don't want to create a
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| fire night and day. At night, it's
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| | signal that will threaten the safety of
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| obvious that the light will attract
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| | you or anyone else. Do your best to find
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| rescuers. During the day, when the
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| | something to drink, food, and shelter
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| firelight is less visible, you can still
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| | from the elements, and create a good
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| attract attention using smoke. Add green
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| | signal to attract help so that you can
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| kindling or grass to your fire, or if
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| | soon be on your way.
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