It is estimated that in July, the authorities rescued six people who had become lost in Kaunas County.
Reports of people getting lost in the woods have become more frequent. According to Virginija Bagdzevičienė, the head of the Operative Management Department of the Public Order Board of the Kaunas County VPK, by the beginning of August, six seniors who had gone hunting and gotten lost in Kaunas County were rescued.
Fortunately, these lost seniors were able to return home safely with the help of police officers. Two of them were able to escape the forest by communicating with the officers. As they had charged mobile phones, the officers who arrived at the forest contacted the lost reporter and helped him leave after activating the sirens of their vehicle.
Experience shows that most people get lost in the forest unexpectedly.
Callers often report that they have lost their way and do not know how to get out. The most recent cases have occurred in heavily forested areas, such as Kėdainiai district, Kaunas district, and Kaišiadorių district. People usually spend about half a day lost in the forest.
With the mushroom picking season just beginning, it is likely that there will be more reports of people getting lost in the forest. It is important to remember and remind older relatives of the steps to take to avoid such situations.
On August 7, two successful rescue operations were carried out. Around 11:30 a.m., a report was received that mushroom pickers were lost in the forest in the village of Eigirgala, Kaunas district. The police and a police service dog were dispatched to the scene.
The service dog led the officers deeper into the woods, and they soon found the lost mushroom pickers.
Later in the evening, another lost mushroom picker was reported in Kėdainiai district. An elderly man had gone into the forest and gotten lost.
Police officers and a service dog were able to successfully bring the man out of the forest after about an hour and 45 minutes.
When going into the forest to pick berries, mushrooms, or other items, police officers advise people to take a charged mobile phone, food supplies (water and snacks), and a whistle. They should also wear brighter clothing to be more visible. It is also important to tell loved ones about your plans and the exact places you will be going.
If you get lost in the forest or bushes, do not panic and immediately call 112 for help.