Currently, there are 2 popular routes when climbing Tam Dao mountain: Tam Dao 3 peaks route (Thach Ban, Thien Thi and Phu Nghia) and Tam Dao Bac route. These trekking routes still retain their original features and do not have many tourists. Among them, Tam Dao Bac is high and has many ravines, dense forests, and even many wild animal traps for hunters.
Recently, the case of a Hanoi young man climbing Tam Dao mountain getting lost and missing for 36 hours has received much public attention. This young man lives near stream water to maintain his life and brought some bread to help supplement minimal energy. More importantly, the male student maintained his composure, did not panic and always believed that he could find a way out, thereby avoiding exhaustion and wrong decisions.
Trekking or mountain climbing in the forest is a form of adventure tourism in recent years that attracts many young people to participate. To avoid accidents when trekking, professional climbers offer survival secrets to know as follows:
Golden rule before a trekking trip
Always go in groups or have a professional tour guide, never break up from groups because just going a few minutes apart can easily lose track of each other.
Announce detailed schedules to relatives before departure.
Compulsory items to bring to the forest: lighter, small knife, flashlight, heating sheet, raincoat, tracklog when moving, spare battery and rescue horn.
Try to stay calm
Panic can lead to wrong decisions.
Spend 5-10 minutes stopping, taking a deep breath to stabilize your spirit.
Try to remember the marked milestones or roads you have traveled.
Do not move recklessly
Going further without purpose only makes you more lost and more dangerous.
If forced to continue: Remember to mark your path by breaking branches, stacking stones, tying ropes,...
Always follow a single direction, check GPS/phone immediately when there is still battery.
Prioritize finding water sources
The human body can fast for many days, but cannot lack water, prioritizing finding water before food.
Take advantage of stream water, water from rock crevices or collect rainwater.
If possible, boil water before drinking to avoid parasites.
Find ways to keep your body warm and create shelter
Use dry leaves and branches to build temporary shacks to shelter from rain and dew to avoid getting cold.
Light a fire to keep warm, drive away wild animals and also act as a identification signal.
Sending a distress signal
Ringing the whistle for 3 short hours/continuously is an international rescue signal (SOS).
Create smoke (daytime) or fire (nighttime) in open areas so that aircraft and rescue teams can easily observe and search faster.
Shout in rhythm to maintain strength, avoid screaming continuously causing exhaustion.
Avoid dangerous mistakes when lost in the forest
Do not eat strange mushrooms or wild fruits because they are very easy to be poisoned.
Do not run when encountering wild animals, but step back slowly, keep your distance.
Do not move at night when visibility is limited.
Do not approach the stream bed because it is easy to encounter the risk of flash floods when it rains.
