Blog #10: Sometimes You Get Lost
Getting lost is a very scary experience to go through. It is no use to anyone if you panic, better to try to stay calm and figure out where you are.
A few weeks ago, I went for a walk thinking I was going to a place I was very familiar with. Before I left the house, I put in my ear phones to listen to an audiobook, like I usually do on walks. I hadn’t told anyone that I was going, because I was alone in the house that day and honestly didn’t think of letting anyone know my plans.
It was a sunny day, not too hot, not too cold. I could have walked all day. I was really getting into my book and then all of a sudden at a particular bus stop I got a call from my Mom (who thought I was at home). My Mom was concerned but I told her I knew where I was, unfortunately I got turned around and ended up walking farther away from my house and all the way downtown. When my Mom called a second time to check on my progress, I realized that I didn’t know where I was at all. I was well and truly lost and I was scared.
I had two options. I could go somewhere and get help or stay where I was and wait for help to come to me. My Mom was getting pretty upset, she was concerned for my safety. She decided to call an Uber to come pick me up. Unfortunately, I was in an odd spot and couldn’t exactly explain where I was. Another friend got on the line with me and asked me to stand still and describe exactly what I saw in front of me, to describe the landmarks I saw. Then to turn to my left and again describe what I saw. I was able to stay calm and my friend figured out exactly where I was, and where the street corner was. I was in a weird spot and had to cross over a pretty busy intersection. It involved a lot of hand-waving and apologetic gestures to other drivers who were between me and the Uber driver. Eventually we connected and I made my way home.
What a lot of learning, for me and my family. From now on I will not go anywhere without letting at least one person know where I am going. I think this is a solid idea for everyone. You could text, you could call, you could leave a note. Something. If no one is home, send a quick text to say where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and what to do if you’re not back when expected.
When discussing the situation with my family later, one of the biggest issues was that my Mom could not pinpoint exactly where I was, and at first I couldn’t help her. There are a number of things that might have made things go differently. The first is that though I have a phone, it does not have a data plan and so I couldn’t access a Map App or GPS. My Mom doesn’t have a Locator App connected to my phone, so she couldn’t locate me either. We have decided that access to data is important now that I am starting work, and really enjoy good long walks on my own. I will be responsible and not use data unless it’s really important or in an emergency situation. Definitely not to play games!
We are exploring and doing research on which locator app will work the best for our devices. We are also investigating Locator devices, like air tags that my Mom or Dad could use so they would easily be able to track my exact location. I always carry an EpiPen in a pouch, so we might try putting an air tag device in that, or I might just carry one in my pocket.
It also got me thinking about low tech things that can help a person who is lost. Here are some ideas that are really important: have a note with written emergency contacts in your wallet, that way if someone finds you they will know who to call, especially if you can’t speak for yourself. I’ve decided from now on, whenever I go out I will always bring my bus pass and a small amount of emergency cash, just in case. Should you forget your bus pass, OCTranspo Drivers (the Ottawa Region) are very helpful, and if you tell them what has happened, and ask if they would just help you to get home, they probably will.
That brings me to a discussion about helpers. Anybody in a uniform is most likely a helper, like a police officer, or a construction person, or a firefighter. Most likely their job relies on their knowledge of the city and they are usually involved with jobs that help people anyway. So, approach a person in uniform and politely, calmly try to explain what’s happened and they will do their best to help you out. Some other helpers could be the Manager at a hotel, Librarians, sometimes even someone working in a store. The point of approaching a helper is to get you out of a jam, maybe even to a much needed washroom break.
So, let someone know your plans, even if you’re just going for a nice long walk on a sunny day and don’t forget there are helpers everywhere especially if you get lost.
Happy Travels!
