Lost in the forest: how to survive? What to do step by step

⏱ 3 min read

Getting lost, night, cold, signals for rescuers. Below: what to do right away, what next, when to call 112 and what to avoid. The same instructions are in the free SurvivalZone.app and work without internet.

Open in the app (works offline)

First, right now

Stop. Do not keep walking on a hunch. Sit down, breathe and use STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan.
Call 112 if you have even one bar of signal. 112 works over any network. If the call will not connect, send a text and move to higher ground or a clearing. The SOS screen in the app gives you coordinates to read to the dispatcher.
Turn on battery saving and airplane mode. Keep the phone inside your clothes, as cold drains batteries fast. GPS works without internet, so the app’s map and compass still show where you are.

Then

Stay put if someone knows where you went. Searchers find a still person more easily. Move only if you know where and why, and mark your way (sticks, stones, a strip of cloth).
You have an hour or two before dusk: choose a place for the night. Shelter from the wind (fallen tree, rock) and insulate from the ground with branches, leaves or your backpack. The ground chills you faster than the air.
Keep warm: take off wet clothes, put on dry layers, a hat and gloves. A rain jacket and an emergency foil blanket are the best protection. Eat and drink regularly if you can.
Light a fire only where it is allowed and safe. Fire gives warmth, and smoke and light help rescuers. See the guide on campfire types and ways to light one.
Signal: three whistle blasts or three torch flashes, a pause, and repeat. A whistle carries further than shouting. Lay out bright clothing in a clearing. Numbered posts at forest junctions help the dispatcher locate you.
Drink from running streams, boiled or filtered if you can. Do not eat unknown mushrooms or berries.

When to call 112

As soon as you have signal. Always when someone is injured, chilled, shivering and slurring words, night is coming in freezing weather, or a child or an older person is lost.

What not to do

Do not wander in the forest after dark. Falls and twisted knees are easy, and nobody will see you at night.
Do not follow animal tracks or assume “downhill always leads to a road”. A stream can lead through bogs and ravines.
Do not drink unboiled water from puddles or still ponds. Do not eat unknown plants.
Do not sleep directly on the ground or sit in wet clothes.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first when I get lost in the forest?

Stop, calm your breathing and use the STOP rule. Call 112 if you have signal. Do not keep walking blindly.

Is it better to stay put or look for a way out?

If someone knows where you went, stay. Rescuers find a still person more easily. Move only if you have a sure goal.

Which signals call for help in the forest?

Three whistle blasts or three torch flashes, a pause, and repeat. Bright clothing laid out in a clearing helps too.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.

Open SurvivalZone.app

Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

Other scenarios

Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.