What to do if you meet a bear

Don't turn your back and run. You will be behaving just like the bear's regular prey and it will chase you. Bears can also reach speeds of nearly 19 mph, so you have no chance of outrunning it! Heading up a tree is also inadvisable. Black bears are excellent climbers and brown bears may be capable of pushing your escape route over. Instead, look a bear firmly in the eyes and back away slowly. Drop any food you have as a bear will go after anything edible. As you move away, the bear will hopefully wander off, but if it does attack, most experts suggest that you play dead, so that the bear loses interest.

What to do if a snake bites you

Whatever you may have seen in films, do not attempt to suck the poison out as you will simply absorb more venom into your system. The best thing to do is to wash the affected area with soap and water, and leave a damp cloth over it. Remain still and make sure the bite point is lower than your heart. Don't panic, as this will pump the venom round your body faster. If you have a mobile phone, call for medical attention or get someone to seek help.

Post-reading tasks

Guess if the sentences are True or False. Then read the text to check.

1. If you get lost, you should keep moving and looking for a way out.

2. It is more important to find a source of food than a source of water.

3. Ii is more dangerous to get wet and cold than to become very thirsty.

4. You should not make shelters under tall trees.

5. Frogs are a safer source of food than plants.

6. Trees are a safe place to get away from bears.

7. It is better to pretend to be dead than to run away from a bear.

8. If a snake bites you, suck out the poison immediately.

9. You should clean a snake bite with soap.

10. The bitten part of the body should be kept higher than your heart.

UNIT XL