Lost and Safe History

The Lost and Safe program came into existence in January, 2007, when retired Reserve Lt. Don Abney, of Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, decided to expand the original HUG-A-TREE and SURVIVE program.

The HUG-A-TREE and SURVIVE Program was started in San Diego, California after a mountain search for a nine-year-old boy who became lost and died of hypothermia. A group of those searchers put together an assembly program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found.

Having been involved with Search and Rescue as a dog handler since 1989, and a HUG-A-TREE presenter since February 1991, he became aware of a growing concern on urban safety based on the questions asked by parents at the end of his presentation. The decision was made to add information at the end of each presentation in the hopes of reaching others with similar concerns. As the information grew, so did the program.

Due to the wide range of topics discussed at each presentation, the LOST and SAFE program was developed. The information presented by HUG-A-TREE remains the foundation of LOST and SAFE. Information obtained from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office are also used in the presentation. We sincerely thank those contributors for such useful information.

We hope your children never need to utilize this knowledge, but if you discuss the information we present, it may help them remember one or more facts that will make a search short and successful, while remaining safe.