Every autumn, Bolesławiec police officers record a dozen or so cases of mushroom pickers going missing in the forest. To minimise the risk and return safely from mushroom picking, follow these rules:
- inform your loved ones about your trip to the forest, indicate the area where you will be staying and when you plan to return,
- take reflective items or torches with you; thanks to them, you will be more visible at night,
- if you take a dog with you, be sure to keep it on a lead,
- do not carry valuables with you to avoid losing them,
- for safety reasons, do not enter military training areas because of the risk of encountering unexploded ordnance,
- when taking children or elderly people with you, do not let them out of your sight,
- remember distinctive features of the area and the numbers of boundary posts, which will help you find your way back more quickly,
- if someone gets lost, becomes separated from the group and remains in the forest for a longer period, they should contact the emergency number 112 and, if possible, report where they are located – they should look for a granite boundary post (the number shown on the post will allow authorities to quickly determine where the missing person is).
If the missing person finds their own way back, they should immediately notify the police that they no longer need assistance.
In addition:
- when going into the forest, secure your vehicle properly, lock the doors and windows, and leave the car in a visible place so that it does not become an easy target for thieves,
- do not leave valuable items in the vehicle (navigation equipment, a laptop, mobile phone, handbag, wallet or documents).
MUSHROOM PICKER, BE RESPONSIBLE!