Should you stay put or move?

Deciding whether to stay where you are or try to walk out is one of the biggest choices you'll make. In most cases, staying put is safer — but not always.

Reasons to stay

Someone knows where you are, or roughly where you were going, and when you're due back.
You're near a vehicle, aircraft or building. These are far easier to spot than a person. Stay with the vehicle unless it's in danger.
Someone is injured or too weak to walk safely.
You don't know the way. Wandering lost uses energy, can take you away from searchers and often leads to more injuries.
Visibility is poor — fog, heavy rain, snow or darkness.
You have shelter and water where you are.

Searchers usually start at your last known position and work outwards. A person who keeps moving is much harder to find.

Reasons to move

Your location is dangerous: rising water, wildfire, avalanche risk, rockfall, or a building that may collapse.
Nobody will be looking for you, or not for days.
You've run out of water and know where to find more nearby.
You know exactly where help is and can reach it safely, in good conditions.
A better spot is close by — higher, drier, more sheltered or more visible.

If you decide to move

Leave a note at your starting point with your names, the time, your direction and your plan. Make it obvious.
Mark your route as you go: arrows of stones or sticks, tied cloth, or snapped branches at eye level.
Travel in daylight and stop well before dark to make camp.
Have a clear goal, such as a road, path, building or high viewpoint. Don't just walk hoping something turns up.
Stay together. Move at the pace of the slowest person.
Be careful following streams downhill. It can lead to paths and people, but streams also run into gorges, waterfalls and thick vegetation. Turn back rather than climb down something you can't climb back up.

Children

Teach children that if they get lost, they should stay in one place, keep warm and blow a whistle or shout. Tell them that searchers are friendly and that they won't be in trouble.

Keep reviewing

A decision to stay isn't permanent. If conditions change, run through the reasons again.

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