A clever kit filled with everything a kid needs in the great outdoors of Utah to stay safe and sound!
All the items we used may already be at your house… or we picked them up this morning at WalMart so the kits can be put together for very little money. Most of the items can be located in the camping section.
Footprints
When you first arrive, have everyone in your party step on a sheet of tin foil and write their name on the sheet, this gives you an exact footprint.
(If you were to tell searchers the missing person was wearing Nikes, Nike makes several different sole patterns)
For Search Dogs ...
Someone who will be staying at "base camp" should take an article of clothing from each member and place it in a zip lock bag with their name on it, a small article of clothing, t-shirt, shorts, even a sock…. Something which search dogs can smell to get the scent of whoever they are searching for… the person who places the item in the bag, should be the same person who hands the item to the search dogs
The Hip Pack
Next, EVERYONE and ANYONE who will be walking away from the "base camp" should always have a hip pack filled with safety items for emergencies that can help save a life!
HIP PACK CONTENTS (and how to use them):
- Strips of Bright Plastic: Cut strips from a brightly colored plastic table cloth, about 2 inches wide and a foot long (go to the party section) pack several in each pack, if you are lost you can tie these strips to trees, bushes, branches all along and around the area you will be waiting to be found, find a safe place which will shelter you and then stay put.
Lightsticks: (You snap them to light them.) You don't want to pack flashlights for kids, there is too much of a temptation to take the flashlight apart. Also flashlights will burn out faster than a light stick. Lightsticks stay lit for up to 12 hours ... plenty of time for the night. If you can pack two in your pack use them one at a time, and at night you can use the strips to tie the light stick above your head to give you light and so you can be seen in the dark
Signal reflector: Cut a piece of cardboard about 2 1/2 x 4 inches and wrap in foil, shiney side out, these are much safer to carry than a glass mirror and can still be used to reflect light and sun to signal where you are
Bright Bandana: The bandana can help you signal for help and keep your head warm. If you hear a search plane flying overhead or voices overhead… get to a clear area, lie down, spread your arms and legs out, like you are making a snow angel. When holding the brightly colored scarf wave it around your head. If you are standing up, you actually become smaller for searchers looking from an airplane or helicopter. Lying down makes your entire body become the signal.
Emergency blanket: It looks like a big sheet of foil, not only will it keep you warm, but it's is shiney and you can be spotted easier. If you cannot take one of these with you, a large size garbage bag with a hole cut out for the face can also keep you warm. Keep your limbs all tucked inside with your face outside the hole.
Whistle: Keep it handy, blow on it every now and then so you can be heard from far away… and if you hear people yelling your name, definitely blow as loud as you can so they can hear you. Listen for bells (search dogs will have bells on them, they also wear a vest to indicate they are search dogs and when they find you they will bark, but don't be afraid, they are alerting searchers they have found you).
Nutritional Bar/Trailmix/Nuts: Store one in your pack just in case you are stranded, select one which is not going to melt (chocolate will make a mess) and please try to make sure kids know it's not just a snack, keep plenty at your "base camp" so they understand it's not a treat, but something in case of an emergency (sugarfree sour candy is also a great thing to add, it will keep your saliva glands going helping with thirst)
As you pack these hip packs, do it with the family. Each person should know what each item does and how to use it properly… hopefully you will never have to count on the contents, but it's nice to know it's there in case you need it.
