| Lost people are usually predictable. Their behavior can be charted depending upon age, gender, interests, physical and mental condition, time of day, weather, and terrain. With that in mind, it can be dangerous to make any presumptions regarding lost person behavior. A subject’s behavior is affected by many factors including environmental factors. Use your own judgment when considering these traits. This page is not designed to teach you how to search for your subject. It should give you a starting point. Data gathered from past search and rescue successes can point you in the right direction for your next search and rescue mission. |
Lost Person Behavior - small children. (1-3 years)
Children between the ages of one and three usually have no concept of being lost. They tend to wander aimlessly since they have no navigational skills.
They will generally remain in the area last seen.
Small children are attracted by random things. A bright colored cloth, a tunnel,
an animal, a path...
Small children tire easily and tend to curl up and go to sleep. You will often find a lost 1 - 3 year old sleeping in or under a log, under a bush, under a picnic table, or any other place they can find to curl up and go to sleep.
When searching for a small child, it is important to look IN - ON - and UNDER everything.
When allocating resources you should consider the following:
- Respond Quickly
- Confine movements of subject
- Identify and detain witnesses
- Protect clues
- Diversify your initial response action
- Back up your operations
You can buy the book Lost Person Behavior: A search and rescue guide on where to look - for land, air and water
from amazon.com
