“People are lost almost daily”: the representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations told how not to get lost in the forest

In the autumn season of picking mushrooms and berries, people are lost in the forest almost daily. About how not to get lost and what measures to take, if it still happened, said the official representative of the Minsk city Department of EMERCOM Olga Melchenko, the correspondent of the agency “Minsk-Novosti”.

How to find the missing

In the structure of the Ministry of Emergencies created search and rescue services equipped with the necessary equipment. Often, when searching, quadcopters are used, including with thermal imagers to detect thermal anomalies. If the location is known at least approximately, searchers are sent there.

- This does not always work as the only method of salvation. Of course, people work to comb the territory along certain squares and routes, Melchenko said.

According to her, in the daytime and at night can use search dogs from the canine service. In regions where such situations occur more often than in Minsk, linear combing is used, when rescuers line up and go “comb”. ATVs are also used to simplify movement.

How to specify the search location

When receiving a message, the dispatcher asks many clarifying questions: how the person entered the forest, on what route, where he is now, whether there are identification signs nearby.

- This can be a power line, next to which numbers can be registered on the poles. They can also determine the approximate location. Maybe there is a river nearby, or you can hear the sound of railway transport or highways – such remote landmarks can also help the dispatcher, Melchenko explained.

If a person has the ability to call, specialists use Viber and other geolocated technologies to clarify their location.

What to take with you in the woods

- It is very important to take with you a charged phone, a power bank, and ideally a smart watch on which you can turn on the location and record the route, the representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations advised.

Be sure to need water, snacks and medicines, including a supply for the day. Parents should tell in advance where and when you leave and when you plan to return, on what route you go. This will help them quickly contact the MES.

In addition, rescuers are advised to choose bright, but practical things that stand out well against the background of the forest. Camouflage jackets, on the contrary, make a person invisible - in case of trouble it will be more difficult to find.

What to do if you have to stay overnight

As the statistics show, the search can be delayed and long enough. Therefore, it is important to find a place to sleep in advance and stay calm.

If you have food and water, it will help you stay. Experienced mushroom pickers know what mushrooms and berries to eat, beginners are also encouraged to explore this information.

Rescuers recommend finding shelter and making a fire to wait and wait for help. At the same time, it is important to observe safety - clear the territory, not leave the fire unattended and extinguish it before leaving.