The rescue acronym S.T.O.P., which stands for Stop, Think, Observe, Plan is invaluable. If you are web savvy, type this in and you will find thousands of websites dealing with this. Here is what the website, “Equipped To Survive, a Kid’s Wilderness Survival Planner” has to say Their website is: http://www.equipped.com/kidprimr.htm
“In almost any emergency, but especially in a survival situation, it is critical that you first S.T.O.P.
“S” is for Stop. Take a deep breath, sit down if possible, calm yourself and recognize that whatever has happened to get you here is past and cannot be undone. You are now in a survival situation and that means . . .
“T” is for Think. Your most important asset is your brain. Use it! Don’t Panic! Move with deliberate care. Think first, so you have no regrets later. Take no action, even a foot step, until you have thought it through. Unrecoverable mistakes and injuries, potentially serious in a survival situation, occur when we act before we engage our brain. Then . . .
“O” is for Observe. Take a look around you. Assess your situation and options. Consider the terrain, weather and resources. Take stock of your supplies, equipment, surroundings, your personal capabilities and, if there are any, the abilities of your fellow survivors.
“P” is for Plan. Prioritize your immediate needs and develop a plan to systematically deal with the emergency and contingencies while conserving your energy. Then, follow your plan. Adjust your plan only as necessary to deal with changing circumstances.
YOU WILL SURVIVE! “
This last statement, I believe, is a positive, correct mindset when faced with such a situation. You will survive. But remember humility. I would caution against being a “rugged individual” in these situations, thinking, “Hey, I can get myself out of this no problem. After all, I have all the training. Just watch this!” Pride in these situations is usually fatal. Ask anyone who has taken a hunter safety course in America and they can tell you about the true stories reenacted in movies. Some are very tragic as they involve whole families.
Conversely, dominating your thinking with a very negative mindset, “I am going to die!,” will have rather unpleasant results as well! I have heard that in those situations, if your mindset is dominated by the belief you are going to die, you usually find a way of doing it.
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