“LOST! . . . But Found,
Safe and Sound”
The “LOST! . . . But Found, Safe and Sound” program was developed by the Association of National Park Rangers. It is a program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how they can be found more quickly.
Lost? STOP!: When you realize you’ve become lost, STOP! Don’t run because you might fall and get hurt.
Find a comfortable spot: It can be scary to be alone. Snuggle up to a tree or other stationary object. Build a nest calms you down. Stay in one place so you can be found far more quickly.
Always carry a whistle and trash bag: When going out of doors, wear a whistle around your neck and put a folded trash bag in your pocket. By sitting down, you can put the trash bag over you to stay warm and dry. Be sure to cut a hole out for your face so you can breathe! Use your whistle and blow 3 short blasts every so often so searchers can find you.
Make yourself BIG: Find a tree near a clearing (no other trees around) to hug. Make an “X” or “SOS” in the field if you can find sticks or rocks or can scrape the dirt with your shoes. Whether searching on the ground or from a helicopter, people are hard to see. Wearing bright colors (like red or orange) can help. If you hear a helicopter, wave your arms and lie out in the field.
You will have many friends looking for you: Searchers will be yelling your name – they are not angry at you. They just want to find you as quickly as they can. Don’t be afraid to let them know where you are.
Your parents won’t be mad at you: Anyone can get lost. They just want you to be found, safe and sound.