the knowledge and skills needed to make a safe decision are unlikely to be possessed by those finding themselves in a wilderness survival situation. Navigation When going on a hike or trip in an unfamiliar location, search and rescue advises to notify a trusted contact of your destination, your planned return time, and then notify them when returning. In the event you do not return in the specified time frame, (e.g. 12 hours of the scheduled return time), your contact can contact the police for search and rescue. Survival situations can often be resolved by finding a way to safety, or a more suitable location to wait for rescue. Types of navigation include: Celestial navigation, using the sun and the night sky to locate the cardinal directions and to maintain course of travel Using a map, compass or GPS receiver Dead reckoning Natural navigation, using the condition of surrounding natural objects (i.e. moss on a tree, snow on a hill, direction of running water, etc.) Mental preparedness Mental clarity and preparedness are critical to survival. The will to live in a life-and-death situation often separates those that live and those that do not. Even well-trained survival experts may be mentally affected in disaster situations. It is critical to be calm and focused during a disaster. To the extent that stress results from testing human limits, the benefits of learning to function under stress and determining those limits may outweigh the downside of stress. There are certain strategies and mental tools that can help people cope better in a survival situation, including focusing on manageable tasks, having a Plan B available, and recognizing denial. Urban survival Earthquake Governments such as the United States and New Zealand advise that in an earthquake, one should "Drop, Cover, and Hold." New Zealand Civil Defense explains it this way: DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to. COVER your head and neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you). If there is no shelter nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and hands. HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it. The United States Federal Emergency Management