Children learn how to deal with getting lost in woods
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Thanks to a new Med-Care Ambulance program, 25 youngsters attending day camp at Black Mountain Tuesday learned what to do should they become lost in the woods.

“We want to take an active role as far as prevention is concerned,” said Laurieann Milligan, Med-Care’s public relations coordinator. “In the children, we wanted to heighten their awareness of getting lost in the Maine woods and what to expect.”

And that’s just what program Director Seth Guthartz, two Maine wardens and a search-and-rescue dog did.

Guthartz, a Med-Care paramedic supervisor, conducted the Lost in the Maine Woods program early Tuesday morning, showing youngsters a video that details the experiences of a young girl who gets lost in the woods while hiking with her parents.

“There is a need for this type of program,” Guthartz said. “We’ve had a lot of calls for lost kids and search and rescues in rural areas. Our target audience is the kids who go out hiking behind their houses and get disoriented or see a moose or deer and try and follow it and discover that they’ve lost their bearings.”

After discussing the video, Guthartz taught the children – aged 6 to 12 – to stay in the same place if they get lost and to always carry water, food, a plastic bag for warmth and a whistle.

Then the fun began when Warden Brian Tripp of Fryeburg introduced his search-and-rescue dog, “Marley,” a black Labrador retriever. They were assisted by Warden Norm Lewis of Woodstock.

Guthartz said that Marley and the participating wardens helped allay the youths’ fears about becoming lost.

“If they get lost, they now know that someone’s going to know that they’re gone and activate the (warden) service and that’s when the cavalry comes in,” Guthartz added.

To demonstrate Marley’s tracking abilities, Guthartz said he and a child hiked up the mountain and hid themselves in the woods and the dog found them. Marley also found them on his own when he wasn’t on a leash.

“The kids loved it. Kids love police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs because they’re well-behaved, well-trained and they’re charismatic. It was wet and rainy Tuesday but the dog had no problems. It found both subjects,” he said.

Due to the program’s successful debut and reception by the youngsters, Guthartz said another such program will be conducted.

“The program was really fun and relaxed. It’s good to show the kids what’s out there and what they could do before they go into the woods and what to do once they are in the woods,” he added.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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