First aid, survival and checklists

What to do until emergency services arrive, step by step.

• Anaphylaxis (allergic shock)Recognize signs · Use the adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) · Call 112 immediately · Position
• BurnsCool immediately for 10–20 minutes · Remove clothing/jewellery · Cover the wound · What NOT to do
• Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoningRecognize CO poisoning · Get outside IMMEDIATELY · Call 112 · Never go back for an unconscious person
• ChokingCan the person cough? · No longer coughing effectively → up to 5 back blows · Up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) · Alternate 5-5 until it's out
• ConcussionRecognize the signs · Stop all activity · First 24 hours · See a doctor or ER if
• CPR (Resuscitation)Check consciousness · Call 112 · Check breathing · 30 chest compressions
• DrowningYour own safety first! · Call 112 · On land: check breathing · Start with 5 rescue breaths
• Electric shockDo NOT touch the victim! · Household power: switch off · High voltage · Call 112
• Eye injuryDon't rub! · Foreign object · Chemical substances · Penetration or impact
• Fractures & sprainsRecognize a fracture · Don't move — support · Call 112 when · Cooling
• Heat stroke & exhaustionTell the two apart · Move to a cool place · Heat stroke: cool immediately and intensively · Give water (only if alert)
• Hypothermia & frostbiteRecognize hypothermia · Get to warmth · Warm slowly · Frostbite
• Insect bites & stingsBee/wasp: remove the sting · Cool the spot · Sting in the mouth or throat · Tick bite: remove the tick
• PoisoningCall your doctor or out-of-hours service · Call 112 for · Never induce vomiting · Burning mouth?
• Recognizing & treating shockRecognize shock · Keep lying down · Keep warm · Nothing to eat or drink
• Stopping bleedingApply firm, direct pressure · Life-threatening bleeding from arm or leg → tourniquet · Apply a pressure bandage · Do NOT remove the bandage
• Stroke recognition (FAST)F — Face · A — Arms · S — Speech · T — Time: call 112!
• UnconsciousnessCheck response · Get help — call 112 · Check breathing · Breathing normally
• Using AEDPower on AED · Attach pads · Nobody touch! · Press shock button

Water, fire, shelter and the rest of the outdoor basics.

• Building shelterLocation choice · Emergency tent / tarp · Lean-to shelter · Snow shelter
• Finding & purifying waterFinding water · Collecting dew · Collecting rainwater · Boiling — best method
• Finding food in natureGOLDEN RULE · Edible plants (NL) · Fishing · Setting traps
• Food preservation without refrigerationDrying (dehydrating) · Smoking · Salting · Fermenting
• Group survival & leadershipAppoint a leader · Divide tasks fairly · Communicate openly · Maintain morale
• Hygiene in natureWashing hands · Toilet · Wound care · Teeth and mouth
• Improvised toolsCutting tools · Twisting rope · Birch bark container · Primitive spoon/fork
• Making fireGather 3 types of fuel · Build the fire · Fire bow method · Flint & steel
• Navigation without compassThe sun · Stick shadow method · Analog watch · North Star (Polaris)
• Predicting weather without appRed sky · Cloud types · Wind direction · Smells & sounds
• Psychological survivalThe survival mindset · Control panic · Set small goals · Self-talk
• Reading animal tracksIdentifying tracks · Reading tracks · Tracks lead to water · Droppings
• SOS & rescue signalsSOS in Morse · Fire signals · Signal mirrors · Ground-air signals
• Surviving cold environmentsLayering clothing · Keep clothing dry · Protect extremities · Calories = heat
• Tying knotsBowline · Clove hitch · Taut-line hitch · Square/reef knot

What to arrange beforehand and what to do when it happens.

• Chemical incidentFollow NL-Alert for evacuation instructions · Close windows and doors · Turn off ventilation (AC, exhaust) · Use protective clothing and mask
• EarthquakeDetermine cover spot per room (Drop, Cover, Hold On) · Secure tall furniture and shelves to wall · Store heavy objects at low places · Know location of water…
• Extreme coldCheck heating system before winter · Have alternative heating source ready · Lay out insulating blankets and sleeping bags · Insulate pipes when frost is…
• FireDetermine escape route (2 paths) · Test smoke detectors · Check fire extinguisher · Agree on meeting point outside
• FloodMonitor water levels and warnings · Place electrical appliances up high · Place sandbags or water barriers · Pack emergency bag (72-hour kit)
• NuclearFollow NL-Alert and official messages · Stay inside and keep doors/windows closed · Have potassium iodide tablets ready (by prescription) · Radioactive…
• PandemicStore face masks and gloves · Store hand sanitizer (70% alcohol) · Stock medicines and fever reducers · Establish quarantine protocol per person
• Power outageGet flashlight and batteries ready · Store drinking water (fill bathtub) · Place candles and lighter within reach · Charge power bank

How to recognise them, the edible parts and the poisonous lookalikes.

• AcornsAcorns — AFTER leaching out tannins
• Autumn CrocusSpring: broad green leaves (resembles wild garlic) · Autumn: lilac-pink flower cups without leaves · NO garlic smell (wild garlic HAS garlic smell) · Grows…
• BeechnutsRipe nuts from spiny husk (September-October)
• BlackberryRipe black fruits (August-October) · Young leaves (spring) for tea
• Blackthorn / SloeSloe berries — much better in taste after frost · Young leaves (spring) for tea
• BurdockRoot (1st year — taproot, scrubbed and cooked) · Young leaf stalks (spring, 2nd year)
• DandelionLeaves (year-round, softest in spring) · Flowers (spring/summer) · Root (autumn/winter)
• ElderFlowers (summer) → syrup, cordial · Ripe black berries (autumn) → jam, juice
• Ground ElderYoung leaves (before flowering, March-April) · Young shoots as spinach substitute
• HawthornRipe red berries (autumn) · Young leaves and blossom (spring) for tea
• HeatherFlowers for tea
• HemlockWhite flower umbels (resembles parsley, ground elder, wild carrot) · KEY FEATURE: red/purple blotches on green hollow stem · Unpleasant mousy smell when…
• MeadowsweetFlowers for tea or as flavouring · Young leaves for tea
• Pine NeedlesYoung needles (lightest in colour) · Young green shoots in May (spring tips)
• PlantainYoung leaves raw or cooked · Seed stalks (protein-rich)
• Sheep SorrelLeaves — sharp sour taste
• Stinging NettleYoung leaves (top 4-6 leaves) · Young shoots in spring
• Water HemlockGrows IN or next to water (ditches, marsh edges) · White flower umbels — resembles watercress, parsley · Hollow chambered rootstock (characteristic!) · Roots…
• WatercressLeaves and young stem tips
• Wild Garlic vs Lily of the ValleyWild Garlic (EDIBLE): broad leaves, STRONG garlic scent · Lily of the Valley (TOXIC): similar leaves, floral scent, NO garlic smell · Wild Garlic: white…
• Wild StrawberryFruits — deliciously aromatic · Leaves for tea
• Willow (Bark)Young leaves (tea) · Inner bark (tea from thin twigs)
• YarrowYoung leaves (small amounts) · Flowers for tea

Which animals you may meet outdoors and what to do.

• Common BuzzardThe common buzzard is the most widespread bird of prey in the Netherlands, seen in nearly every forest and meadow area. It likes to soar over open ground…
• Common ViperThe adder is the ONLY venomous snake in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. It's recognizable by the zigzag pattern on its back and the V-shape…
• Common WaspThe common wasp is the most widespread stinging insect in NW Europe. They live in colonies of up to 10,000 workers and nest in the ground, tree cavities, and…
• Deer TickThe tick (sheep tick) is a small, blood-feeding arachnid that can transmit Lyme disease. It moves through grass and low shrubs and climbs onto passing…
• Eurasian OtterThe otter is a slender, water-loving member of the weasel family that lives along rivers, lakes, and canals. After decades of absence, the otter is returning…
• European BadgerThe badger is a powerful, stocky forest dweller with distinctive black-and-white stripes on its head. In the Netherlands it's a protected species found in…
• European HareThe European hare is a large, fast animal of open fields and meadows. It's recognizable by its very long ears with black tips. Unlike the rabbit, the hare…
• European HedgehogThe hedgehog is a small, nocturnal insectivore that lives in gardens, parks, meadows, and forests. It's covered in about 6,000 spines that serve as…
• European HornetThe European hornet is the largest wasp in NW Europe, up to 3.5 cm long. It's recognizable by its brown-red and yellow pattern. It nests in hollow trees and…
• False Widow SpiderThe false widow is a spider that resembles the black widow but is less dangerous. It's becoming more common in the Netherlands due to climate change. It…
• Grass SnakeThe grass snake is the largest snake in the Netherlands and completely harmless. It's recognizable by its yellow-orange neck collar and round pupils. It…
• Gray WolfThe wolf has returned to the Netherlands, notably on the Veluwe where several packs are now present. Wolves are large, intelligent predators that are…
• Great Spotted WoodpeckerThe great spotted woodpecker is the most common woodpecker in the Netherlands, recognizable by its black-and-white plumage and red patch on the nape (male).…
• Grey HeronThe grey heron is a large, slender wading bird that fishes along ditches, rivers, and lakes. It's recognizable by its grey-blue plumage and white head with a…
• Harbor SealThe harbor seal is common along the Dutch, Belgian, and British coasts and in the Wadden Sea. They like to rest on sandbanks and often haul out in large…
• Honey BeeThe honey bee is a social insect living in colonies of up to 60,000 bees. They're essential for pollinating crops and wild plants. Wild honey bees nest in…
• Horse FlyThe horse fly is a large, sturdy fly measuring 2–3 cm. Only the females bite — they need blood for egg production. They're active in warm, humid weather near…
• MosquitoMosquitoes are small biting flies whose females drink blood for egg production. In NW Europe mosquitoes aren't dangerous in the sense of spreading disease,…
• Mute SwanThe mute swan is the largest flying bird in the Netherlands and a familiar sight on canals, lakes, and park ponds. It's a protected species, recognizable by…
• Northern LapwingThe northern lapwing is a striking meadow bird with a glossy black-green back, white belly, and distinctive crest. Its 'peewit' call is unmistakable. It's a…
• Oak Processionary MothThe oak processionary moth caterpillar crawls through oak trees in groups (processions). The caterpillars have irritating hairs that can cause severe skin…
• Red FoxThe red fox is one of the most adaptable predators in NW Europe, living in forests, meadows, dunes, and even cities. It's recognizable by its orange-red coat…
• Red SquirrelThe red squirrel is a small, lively rodent that lives in coniferous and deciduous forests. In the Netherlands it's less common than it used to be due to…
• Roe DeerThe roe deer is the smallest native deer species in the Netherlands and is found almost everywhere. They live solitarily or in small family groups. Bucks…
• Sand LizardThe sand lizard is the rarest lizard in the Netherlands, found on sandy heathland and dunes. Males develop a spectacular green color on their flanks during…
• Slow WormThe slow worm looks like a snake but is actually a legless lizard. It has movable eyelids and a forked tongue. It's glossy brown or grey-silver and…
• Wild BoarThe wild boar is a powerful, intelligent animal found across much of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. They live in family groups led by the oldest sow.…