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