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Preparation is the key to most obstacles in life, hiking hazards and extremes are no exception.
A hiking health hazard is any condition that occurs that could have been avoided by awareness, planning, and preparation.
Training yourself to recognize hazards and take appropriate precautionary measures will provide for a safe enjoyable hiking experience.
Health Hazards of Hiking:
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Sometimes sunburn can be worse in cloud covered conditions, use sun screen and wear sun glasses. Also, make certain to wear appropriate clothing for the conditions.
For every 30 minutes of strenuous hiking in hot weather, a person needs 10 to 24 ounces of water. Signs of dehydration, which leads to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, are feeling faint, feeling dizzy with cheeks flushed, and shifts in moods or attitudes.
Heat stroke symptoms include an increase in body temperature, vomiting, cramping muscles and quickened heart rate. People with heat exhaustion act illogical and bewildered.
These are life threatening symptoms. Move person to into the shade, remove any heavy clothing, soak clothing in cool water and apply to the skin. Encourage person to drink about 1/2 gallon of water in the first hour.
Fatigue takes away your ability to make good choices. Hence, you may become injured or lost.
1) Drink plenty of water.
2) Eat plenty of food, (high calories.)
3) Take frequent rest brakes of moderate length.
4) Keep a comfortable temperature.
5) Keep an eye on the rest of your party for fatigue symptoms.
We loose heat faster than we can make it. So, keep yourself warm and dry or you're at risk for hypothermia. The symptoms for hypothermia are shivering, slurring of words, a not caring attitude, and a slowed heart rate.
These also are life threatening symptoms.
Get this person to a warm and dry place as soon as possible. Make a shelter, and build a fire. If this person is wet, have them change into dry clothing. When they start warming up, replenish their body with food and warm liquids.
Physical Hazards of Hiking:
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It is advisable not to attempt a hike when the weather is poor, or deteriorating. To be safe, always check the weather conditions in the area you plan to hike just prior to leaving. If questionable, it is better to cancel the trip and return another day.
Strong winds can cause you to be knocked off your feet, hit with flying debris, and make a trail of loose rock impossible to navigate. If winds pick up or clouds begin to fly by, stay clear of mountain tops and rock faces.
Lightening requires that you stay clear of mountain tops, ridges, and steep inclines. Avoid open areas but if you have no choice, lie down stretching your arms.
Find shelter under any potential lightening rod but, not too close to it's base and make certain that you are shorter than any other possible target. Crouch down with only your feet on the ground, and if available, stand on your pack.
If someone in your party is hit by lightening, be prepared to provide:
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Terrain can be risky.Take your time and watch your step. High elevation trails can be covered in ice and snow until early summer. Only navigate these areas with the appropriate experience and equipment. Rocky trails are common, stay back from all ledges, and watch for falling rocks.
River and stream crossings are also risky and can result in hypothermia, injuries or drowning. Undo your waist belt on your pack. This will allow you to remove it if you get into trouble. Use your walking stick for additional support. Look for a wide, shallow point to cross, (not above rapids.) If the current is too strong, go back the way you came in.
Step over tree roots, logs and anything covered in algae. They are slippery and can cause an injury. Step on the first slippery area you find with caution. This will help you establish your stability. If your boots grip poorly, consider a walking stick for additional support.
If you are hiking in an area known for high animal activity, traveling in groups would be a safer option. Also, consider wearing bells to notify animals, large and small, of your presence.
Keep an eye out for fresh bear sign, should you encounter a bear, make a lot of noise. If this doesn't work, stay calm, pick up children, prepare your pepper spray, speak to the bear in a calm reassuring voice, back away from the bear slowly, leaving the bear an escape route.
NEVER RUN
These attacks normally last about two minutes and make certain that the bear is gone before you move.
If the bear doesn't let up, FIGHT BACK hit, fight, throw rocks, let this bear know you are not easy prey.
Another animal to consider while hiking would be the cougar. Again, travel in groups, and making a lot of noise are good warning signs. This alerts the animal that you are coming. They don't want to have a confrontation anymore than you do.
If you do have an encounter, convince the cougar that you are not prey and that you are dangerous. Pick up small children and gather the group together, DO NOT RUN, do not crouch down, do not stare in the cougar's eyes.
If it holds it's ground, make yourself bigger, hold your jacket open, shout and wave your arms. Back away slowly, give the cougar an escape route. If this doesn't work, use the pepper spray, beat it with sticks, rocks, your fists or anything else you can find.
Poison Oak and Poison Ivy cause skin redness, rashes, itching and blistering. All though annoying, it usually clears up in a week.
Wash all clothing effected in hot soapy water. This will usually correct the problem.
My brother had to throw his jeans away after a run in with poison oak. Washing them didn't help, he was reinfected. OUCH!
After hiking check yourself for ticks especially the scalp, neck, behind the ears, armpits, and groin area.
The ticks that carry Lymes Disease are the "Deer Tick or the Western Black-Legged Tick." These ticks are much smaller than those found on the family dog. As adults, they are about the size of a sesame seed.
Remove the tick using a fine point set of tweezers.
Place the tips of the tweezers as close to the skin as possible.
Steadily pull the tick out straight out.
If all of the tick is removed, wash the area with soap and water and swab the area with alcohol.
Place tick in a bottle with alcohol for identification, if available. Otherwise, place in any container or bag available on the trail.
If a rash develops, especially a red-ringed bulls-eye rash, call the doctor. If the area is red, swollen, warm or looks infected, call the doctor. If you develop a fever, muscle or joint pain, headache, chills, stiff neck or back, or fatigue, call the doctor. If the tick was on the body for over 24 hours, call the doctor.
If you didn't get all of the tick out, call the doctor.
Lost ?
Okay, you didn't buy a map, you don't have a compass, cell phone or GPS, you don't have a hiking buddy......and YOU ARE LOST!Stop, sit down, and calm down. Now is the time to clear your thoughts and try to find your way out. Back track for a few minutes. Often times clearing the mind and back tracking will help you to find your way. No such luck? Blow that whistle, 3 sharp blasts, this is a distress signal.
Find a stream, since you don't have a map, you probably don't have water purification tablets either. You need water, so drink the water from the stream; drink it as a last resort. You will pay those consequences later.
Climb to a clearing, try to find the trail. No trail? Look for material to burn for warmth and for a rescue fire. Make yourself a shelter. Assess and ration your food and water supply. Stay where you are, Stay Calm, and keep blowing your whistle. Be patient Search and Rescue will find you.
Limit your Hazards and Extremes
Health - you need to be in reasonably good health to hike. If you are in poor or questionable health, then consult your physician regarding a plan to strengthen yourself.
Food and Water - bring extra, in case you need extra time to finish the hike or in case of trouble.
Time - allow yourself plenty of time for your hike. Remember that animals tend to move at dawn and at dusk. There is no reason to set out too late in the day.
Falling - if you are falling, try avoiding your hands, knees and elbows, try falling on your side. If you are sliding, you might stop the slide with your hiking stick or by hanging onto a tree. Keep calm, and try to slide on your feet while crouching, this doesn't work, try sliding on your bottom.
Pepper Spray - carry it, aim at the animals face.
Mosquito's - if repellent is unavailable, then use mud.
Trail - trails change from year to year. Flooding, erosion, seasonal springs, avalanche, mud/rock slides occur. Again, allow yourself time for these possible changes. Use your cell phone (if possible) to phone home and adjust your time plan.
Hunters - hunting season is from late summer to early winter. Dress in part in bright colors, i.e. a vest, a shirt, ect..
Every time we step onto a hiking trail, we risk becoming lost or injured. Planning can reduce becoming lost to zero. Planning can also reduce injuries significantly. It's all up to you.
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