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SAFETY MOMENT: GENERAL SAFETY FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

SAFETY MOMENT: GENERAL SAFETY FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

• Travel with a companion. You don’t want to be by yourself in case of an emergency.

• Be in good physical condition. Set a comfortable pace as you hike. If your trip will be strenuous, get in good physical condition before setting out.

• Wear appropriate clothing for the trail conditions and season.

• Check your equipment- Keep your equipment in good working order.

• Be weather wise- Keep an eye on current and predicted weather conditions. In this area, weather can change very quickly.

• Learn basic first aid so you will know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses.

• Alcohol and outdoor activities don’t mix! Judgement, agility, and balance are all reduced by alcohol.

Hiking and Camping Tips:

• Before starting out, do warm-up exercises. Stretching gradually increases heart rate, temperature and circulation to your muscles.

• Plan the trip ahead of time and assign tasks that people enjoy.

• Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member and check in with them upon your return.

• Bring sunscreen no matter the season. You can get painful sunburn even in subfreezing temperatures.

• Bring a customized first aid kit tailored to your outing.

• Develop an emergency plan. Make sure everyone knows what to do if they become lost or a medical emergency arises.

• Drink plenty of water. Water is heavy to carry, but thirst on the trail is a hazard. Never drink your total supply between refills.

• Pack a first aid kit. Your kit can prove invaluable if you or a member of your group suffers a cut, bee sting or allergic reaction. Pack antiseptics for cuts and scrapes, tweezers, insect repellent, bug spray, a snake bite

kit, pain relievers, and sunscreen.

• Learn the ABCs of treating emergencies. Recognizing serious injuries will enable you to attend to a victim until medical help arrives.

• Before you leave, find out the weather report. When you arrive at the site, watch the skies for changes and carry a compact weather radio.

• Check site for potential hazards. Be sure to check the site thoroughly for glass, sharp objects, branches, large ant beds, poison ivy, bees, and hazardous terrain.

• Build fires in a safe area. Your open fires and fuel-burning appliances must be far enough away from the tent to prevent ignition from sparks, flames, and heat.

• Make sure your fires are always attended. Be sure you have an area for a fire that cannot spread laterally or vertically.

• Dispose of trash properly. Remember to recycle.

• Beware when encountering wild life. To ward off bears, keep your campsite clean and do not leave food, garbage, coolers or cooking appliances.

If you get lost:

• Pay close attention to your surroundings and landmarks. Relate this to your location on a map.

• Stay calm if you get lost. Panic is your greatest enemy. Try to remember how you got to your present location.

• Trust your map and compass. If you are on a trail, don’t leave it.

• Stay put if it is nightfall, if you are injured, or if you are near exhaustion.

• As a last resort, follow a drainage or stream downhill.

Checklist of essentials:

• Candle

• Clothing (always bring something warm, extra socks, and rain gear)

• Compass

• First aid kit

• Food (bring extra)

• Flashlight

• Foil (to use as a cup or signaling device)

• Hat

• Insect repellent

• Map

• Nylon filament

• Pocket knife

• Pocket mirror (to use as a signaling device)