by Paul J. Presidente, Hunter Trainin

Page 6

Officer

NOTE: Refore starting out on a Fish-
ing or Hunting expedition, tell
someone where vou are planning to

g0 - then go there. Don't change
vour plan and go someplace else.

Manv advances have heen made in
the development of clothing, equip-
ment, rations and in the development
and techniques for their use. However
regardless of how good the equipment
and techniques are, the man lost is
faced with a situation which has to
deal with himself. Man's psvcholop-
ical reactions to the stresses of the
situation often makes him unable to
cone and utilize his available re-
sources.

While much of this information
could he labelled common sense, it
should be remembered that common
sense is hased on training and past
experience and adjustments to many
situations. One of the foremost
psychological requirements for a lost
outdoorsman is the abtlitv to accept
immediately the reality of a new
emergency situation and react properly

to it.

Survival training has heen

taught in many wavs ranging all] the
wav from lecturing in classrooms to
putting students into a fairly sim-
{lar predicament and letting them
work their wav out. Other methods
include the use of classroom training
aids (such as films, and displavs),
and practice sessions with actual
equipment as well as drills to develop

hasic skills. Properly handled, each
of these methods adds to the effect-

iveness of Survival Training Programs.
In general however, the closer the
training comes to the real thing,

the more effective it is. Another
kev to effectiveness, which is very
important, is motivation. The more
the student is made to want to learn
the more he will learn.

Survival training personnel use
the term that "survival training is
like life insurance, you never re-
quire it until vou need it. how-
ever, life insurance does not
puarantee a chance of extended life,
survival training does. The trained
outdoorsman will he prepared at all
times and be capable of surviving in
circumstances. which others mignt
perish.

WHAT TO DO IF LOST

Stav put and do not panic.
Keep busy, however do not overwork
yourself. The sooner you admit to
yourself that you are lost and
“Swallow your pride”, the sooner
you will he found. Once a camp is
established, it should not he a-
bandoned. Stay put unless vou
finally realize where vou are and
where you are going. If the camn
is abandoned, a note should be
left at the camp advising of your
intentions.