Thursday, January 19, 2017
Hiking into wild country is a popular pastime. It's great to get away and rediscover the beauty of nature. However, it's crazy to take off without knowing how to go out and return safely. You owe it to yourself and others to educate yourself on backcountry and outdoor safety procedures.
Many of the guidelines are everyday precautions that you already know. It's just that they take on new importance when you're miles away from civilization. You know to stay hydrated when you exercise. People often disregard this principle, but they are usually just a few steps away from a clean water source. On the trail, things are different. You need to carry your water with you.
A person needs to drink 2 to 3 quarts of water on a mild day when they're exercising. If it's a hot day, the allotment goes up to 3 to 4 quarts. When the weather is cold, the recommendation also rises to 3 to 4. This may surprise you, but a lot of moisture is lost through respiration into dry winter air. On hot days, you should add a little salt and sugar to your water, or some electrolytes. It just makes sense to carry water with you in the wilderness. Unless you have one of those super filtration bottles, you won't want to drink from creeks, lakes, or puddles.
Before you start an extensive hike, make sure you check the weather. High humidity makes hot weather harder to handle, since core body temperature can rise to dangerous heights when perspiration is hindered. Wind can make cold weather colder, making it harder to maintain a normal body temperature.
It's amazing how many people take off without the proper clothes. A light jacket and sneakers might be fine at home, but hiking demands waterproof outer wear and layers that help you adjust to temperature fluctuations. If you get caught in the rain in clothes that don't hold in body heat when wet, you can suffer from hypothermia even in summer.
It's surprising how many hiking emergencies are complicated by insufficient gear. Mountain climbers get caught in a storm at high altitudes, get chilled, and become disoriented. This puts their companions at risk, as well as any rescue personnel who need to help. Plan for weather extremes when venturing into the wild.
This brings up another point that you need to consider. What if you or a companion needs to be evacuated? It's vitally important that you have a plan for such a contingency. Make sure the folks at home know where you're headed. Know how to summon help if you need it. Cell phones don't always work well in the outback. Educate yourself on ways to send emergency signals.
First aid is only as good as the person who gives it. Learn how to do it right. You might need to cope with a sprain, a fracture, an animal attack, or a fall. Know the symptoms of heat stroke or exhaustion, dehydration, and hypothermia and frostbite. What you learn before you go might never be needed, but it will be priceless if it is.
Many of the guidelines are everyday precautions that you already know. It's just that they take on new importance when you're miles away from civilization. You know to stay hydrated when you exercise. People often disregard this principle, but they are usually just a few steps away from a clean water source. On the trail, things are different. You need to carry your water with you.
A person needs to drink 2 to 3 quarts of water on a mild day when they're exercising. If it's a hot day, the allotment goes up to 3 to 4 quarts. When the weather is cold, the recommendation also rises to 3 to 4. This may surprise you, but a lot of moisture is lost through respiration into dry winter air. On hot days, you should add a little salt and sugar to your water, or some electrolytes. It just makes sense to carry water with you in the wilderness. Unless you have one of those super filtration bottles, you won't want to drink from creeks, lakes, or puddles.
Before you start an extensive hike, make sure you check the weather. High humidity makes hot weather harder to handle, since core body temperature can rise to dangerous heights when perspiration is hindered. Wind can make cold weather colder, making it harder to maintain a normal body temperature.
It's amazing how many people take off without the proper clothes. A light jacket and sneakers might be fine at home, but hiking demands waterproof outer wear and layers that help you adjust to temperature fluctuations. If you get caught in the rain in clothes that don't hold in body heat when wet, you can suffer from hypothermia even in summer.
It's surprising how many hiking emergencies are complicated by insufficient gear. Mountain climbers get caught in a storm at high altitudes, get chilled, and become disoriented. This puts their companions at risk, as well as any rescue personnel who need to help. Plan for weather extremes when venturing into the wild.
This brings up another point that you need to consider. What if you or a companion needs to be evacuated? It's vitally important that you have a plan for such a contingency. Make sure the folks at home know where you're headed. Know how to summon help if you need it. Cell phones don't always work well in the outback. Educate yourself on ways to send emergency signals.
First aid is only as good as the person who gives it. Learn how to do it right. You might need to cope with a sprain, a fracture, an animal attack, or a fall. Know the symptoms of heat stroke or exhaustion, dehydration, and hypothermia and frostbite. What you learn before you go might never be needed, but it will be priceless if it is.
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Be sure to take a look at the following web pages featuring backcountry and outdoor safety tips. Here you will gain an insight into this educational topic by checking out the related site at http://www.mra.org/training-education/public-education.