Navigation, a key skill
I enjoy map reading, it is an important skill anyone who ventures off the beaten track should understand.
Navigation is usually taught as a hill skill, using:
Map.
Compass.
Pacing.
Timing.
But there is another side to navigation that rarely gets discussed.
Navigation errors are a potential medical risk.
When people get lost, small problems quickly become serious incidents.
Not because the terrain changed.
But because the situation has changed.
How getting lost becomes a medical incident
A navigation mistake rarely causes injury directly.
What it does instead is to create the conditions where injury or illness becomes more likely.
When people realise they are lost, several things usually happen:
They continue moving in an attempt to “find the path”
They enter unfamiliar terrain
Time/light starts to run out
Stress increases
Decision-making deteriorates
This combination leads to predictable outcomes.
Fatigue.
Exposure.
Dehydration.
Trips and falls.
And eventually, rescue.
Search and Rescue statistics repeatedly show that lost or overdue walkers are among the most common call-outs in the UK.
Research analysing UK mountain rescue incidents found that navigation errors and becoming lost are major contributing factors in outdoor rescues.¹
The physiological cost of being lost
Being lost does not just create logistical problems.
It creates physiological stress.
Fatigue
When people are unsure of their position they often travel further than planned.
This increases:
energy expenditure
muscle fatigue
risk of slips and trips
Fatigue itself is a well-recognised contributor to accidents in outdoor environments.²
Dehydration
Unexpected delays mean:
drinkable water runs out
food for the planned trip run out
energy levels drop
Even mild dehydration impairs physical performance and cognitive function, making navigation errors even more likely.³
It becomes a vicious cycle.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is one of the most common medical risks once people are delayed outdoors.
A navigation error can easily mean:
finishing the day after dark
getting caught in deteriorating weather
prolonged exposure
Studies of mountain incidents consistently show exposure and hypothermia as significant causes of mountain rescue call-outs.⁴
Decision-making deteriorates under stress
Perhaps the most dangerous effect of getting lost is poor decision-making.
Stress causes people to:
move faster
ignore navigation landmarks
descend unsafe ground
attempt shortcuts
This is when injuries occur.
Falls while descending steep ground, attempting shortcuts, or travelling off-path are common causes of serious mountain injuries.⁵
And it all started with a simple navigation error.
When navigation failure delays rescue
Navigation errors also complicate rescue.
If casualties cannot accurately work out where they are and share this with a mountain rescue team, it becomes far harder for rescue teams to reach them.
Poor location information leads to:
longer searches
extended exposure
delayed medical care
In cold environments, even small delays can significantly worsen outcomes.
Prevention is simpler than rescue
The good news is that most navigation incidents are preventable.
Simple habits dramatically reduce risk:
1. Plan properly
Know:
the route
escape options
distances and timings
2. Navigate continuously
Do not wait until you are lost.
Confirm your position regularly.
3. Turn around early
If something does not match the map, stop and reassess.
Continuing rarely fixes the problem.
4. Carry the right tools (and know how to use them)
At minimum:
map
compass
charged phone
spare battery or power bank
Technology helps, but map and compass remain essential when batteries fail or signal disappears.
Navigation is casualty prevention
First aid training often focuses on what to do after an incident.
But the real goal is preventing the incident in the first place.
Good navigation reduces:
exposure
fatigue
injury risk
delayed rescue
Because if you can keep your group safe and on the right route…
You may never need to open the first aid kit at all.
References
Mountain Rescue England and Wales. Incident Statistics Reports.
Heggie TW, Amundson ME. Dead men walking: search and rescue in US national parks. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2009.
Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW. Dehydration: physiology, assessment and performance effects. Comprehensive Physiology. 2014.
Imray C, et al. Cold damage to the extremities. BMJ. 2011.
McIntosh SE, et al. Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for prevention and treatment of hypothermia. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2019.
Share this post: