"The ABCs of Safety." Basic recommendations for walking in the forest

Preparing for a trip in the forest: 

1. Tell where you are going. If there is no one nearby, leave a note with a message (date, time of departure, number of people travelling with you, direction of travel and approximate time of return); 
2. Make it a rule to look at a map or at least a hand-drawn plan of the area and remember the landmarks before you go on a trip or hike in the forest;
3. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. They should be suitable for the terrain and weather conditions. Remember. Weather conditions can change very quickly.
4. Make sure all your equipment is in good, working order.
5. If you are in doubt about taking this or that item, remember that extra weight will hinder you. 

In the forest:

• signal with each other so that you don't lose each other in the forest, especially in case of unexpected situations, for example with a whistle;
• memorise landmarks while travelling in the forest. Leave notes to avoid getting lost. Without landmarks, a person in the forest starts to get lost;
• choose a place for a campfire and equip it. Never leave a fire unattended. An unattended fire can cause a forest fire;
• never drink water from rivers and lakes. The most reliable sources of water are streams. Do not even wash your hands near places where you see dead fish or animals;
• be careful, there may be swampy areas in the forest - avoid them. Do not use swamp water either. As a rule, there are many vipers near the swamp;
• remember -–only pick mushrooms and berries that you know well. To avoid poisoning, never eat raw mushrooms; never pick mushrooms and berries near transport routes, even edible mushrooms in those places are poisonous. 
• avoid wild animals. Remember that moose, deer, and foxes can be dangerous - humans and animals have about 150 diseases in common. Animals attack humans if they are injured, frightened by surprise, or protecting their young. In case of obviously aggressive behaviour, you can use fire as a means of defence, or knock a stick against a tree;
• avoid additional troubles with animals, especially at night - never leave food in your tent or near your place of rest, it is better to put it on a tree; bury food scraps away from the place of rest;
• be careful when encountering snakes. In the event of a snakebite, immediately squeeze out drops of blood containing venom from the wound and suck it out for half an hour, spitting the whole time. This should not be done if there are wounds on the lips and mouth. Then you should apply a tight bandage above the bite site and get to the hospital immediately;
• there are many ticks in the forest that can stick to your body. If you are bitten by a tick, you should not try to pull it out, but get to a hospital as soon as possible.
• If you find yourself near broken trees, do not linger. They lean on each other and can fall, especially in windy conditions;
• do not hide under tall trees or stay on the lawn during a lightning storm, as lightning can strike at the highest point.

If you get lost in the forest:

• stay calm and avoid panic. If you panic, it is impossible to think logically; - stop and sit down immediately. And don't take another step without thinking. You can only think about one thing, how to get to the place where the familiar path begins; remember the last sign on the familiar part of the path and try to trace the road to it. If this does not work, remember familiar landmarks, best of all, a railway, a navigable river, a highway. 
  In the absence of familiar landmarks, paths and roads, go to the water - downstream. The stream will lead to the river, the river to people. If there are no landmarks, climb the tallest tree - the view from above helps you to orientate yourself better;
• use fire properly. It is one of the main means of survival in the forest. Fire can help you keep warm, dry your clothes and send signals. Always keep matches in a waterproof bag;
• avoid hypothermia. It happens when a person is not aware of the cold and does not have appropriate clothing and protection;
• use the skills and abilities to build shelters (shed, tent, etc.) or use natural caves. This will help you survive in the forest, provide you with protection and warmth;
• save and use water sparingly. It is more important for your survival than food. 

REMEMBER. Wherever you go and wherever you are, you may find yourself in extreme conditions, so 

• Know your approximate route of travel;
• Have a means of determining the directions of the horizon;
• Wear clothing suitable for all weather conditions;
• Have enough food, water, matches, clothing and protective equipment.