HIKING SAFETY

Itinerary Keeper

Although the idea of an itinerary keeper was mentioned earlier in this article, it deserves mention again about safety. Giving someone who is reliable a written copy of your hiking plans is one of the most important things you can do for the safety of your family in regard to hiking. Always be certain that someone reliable knows where you are going, how long you will be there, and who to contact if you don't return when you plan to return. ALWAYS designate a hiking itinerary keeper before you go on any hiking trip.

Physical Safety

Sure Footing
When hiking, it is important to be aware of where you are stepping at all times. Scan the trail for hazards, rocks, holes, unevenness, and other potential dangers. Hike with the mindset of stepping in the safest places with the most secure footing. Enjoying the beauty of the surroundings is part of the joy of hiking, but also devote part of your attention to where you are stepping. Make your best effort to assure that each step is secure and firm.

Heights and Falls
Sure footing is the first and best hope for avoiding falls and for navigating around heights. When faced with hazardous portions of a trail, remain calm and find the best places to step. Keep your hands free and your body leaning slightly toward the most secure side of the trail. Keep your knees bent slightly and hold on to anything secure on the trail if it is available. By leaning toward the safest side of the trail and keeping your hands free, you will be most ready to catch yourself if a fall is inevitable. If you must fall, fall toward the safest side of the trail, and be ready to stop your fall with the nearest secure item.

There are times on the trail when you will encounter slick conditions such as dry loose soil, ice, snow, wet rocks, etc. Remember to keep your body prepared for a fall and leaning toward the safest place to fall. When hiking on slippery portions of the trail, it is best to focus on where you will put your feet while also keeping in mind the safest place to fall if you must to avoid rocks, long drops, or other hazards that may cause personal injury.

Hiking Poles
The use of hiking poles (or trekking poles) can offer increase stability in some hazardous terrain. They can help hikers to keep their balance more effectively and they take some of the shock of hiking away from the legs. If you decide to buy hiking poles, select a pair that adjust by telescoping and that offer some shock absorption capability. Hiking poles should not be considered a replacement to careful footing and trail awareness, but they do offer additional support and stability.

First Aid Kit
Always pack a first aid kit when hiking. Any first aid kit is better than no first aid kit. Ideally you may want to create your own kit and keep it in a small plastic case that will fit in your backpack. A hiking first aid kit should contain a minimum of the following items: antibacterial ointment, antiseptic swabs, adhesive bandages, tweezers, gauze rolls, gauze bandages, cloth tape, small scissors, pain reliever tablets. Other items you may desire to keep in your first aid kit are anti-itch cream, moleskin (to prevent blisters), burn relief spray (for sunburns), and hot and cold packs.

Car and Valuables
When it comes to safety and protection, don't forget your car. When you are leaving your car to venture out on the trail, be sure that nothing valuable is visible through the windows. Take your valuables with you or hide them so they can not be seen from the outside. It is common to decide to leave items behind in the interest of saving weight or because you simply may not need them on the trail. If you must leave anything behind, be sure it is hidden well or stored away in a trunk or under a seat if possible. Lock your car securely and set an alarm if your car has one.

Staying Together

Staying together should be a priority to safety on a family hike. Never let children wander far ahead or fall far behind the group. There is safety in numbers and some degree of that safety is lost by allowing children to be separated from parents. It is a good rule to always keep your children where you can see them, but I would go a step further to say always keep your children where you can reach them in 5 seconds or less. By keeping your children close by, you are able to see and warn them about trail hazards, and to prevent them from being seen as easy prey by predators.

Weather Safety

Be prepared for hazards that come with changing or severe weather. In higher altitudes weather changes happen quickly. With higher altitude there also comes lower temperatures. Be sure that you have the appropriate clothing and equipment to handle any weather. Keep a rain suit or poncho in your backpack and appropriate layered clothing.


Food Safety

Pack extra food in addition to your lunch and snacks in case of an emergency. This food should be lightweight and high in calories. Energy bars, soda crackers, and granola bars are good for this purpose. Be sure you pack enough to feed the family for at least two meals if an emergency should occur. The goal of the extra food is to provide the calories and thereby the energy that you and your family need to outlast an emergency and get to safety.


Fires

Never start a fire on a hike unless it is an absolute emergency essential to your survival. Fires are dangerous and destructive to forests and wildlife. Lighting a fire while on a hike can put you and your family in extreme danger. Never consider lighting a fire simply for the novelty of the idea. You should always pack a lighter, matches, or a flint and bring fire starter sticks in case of emergency, but you should never use them unless it is absolutely necessary for your survival.

Protection from Wildlife

In general there is little chance that you will encounter a dangerous situation with wildlife on a hike, but on any family hike it is important to be informed so you can effectively protect your loved ones. This article gives basic information on a few of the most serious threats you may face regarding predactious animals. For complete and accurate information about specific threats and how to handle them it may also be wise to consult other sources. This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive or complete source of information to protect you from dangers you may face regarding animals, but I will touch on some general safety tips for avoiding animal attacks while hiking.

A Few Quick General Tips
For all situations it is important to be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of where you are stepping and of your surroundings. Stay together on the trail as there is safety in numbers. Never approach animals in the wilderness or harass them in any way. Always carry an animal deterrent device such as bear pepper spray, a hunting knife, or other legally permitted weapon. In most cases animals will retreat from you, or you will have an opportunity to retreat from them. Fighting any animal should always be a last resort and should only be attempted if all other options fail.

Snakes
In addition to preventing a twisted ankle, snakes are a good reason to keep your eye on where you will be stepping. Snakes are usually found resting in dark areas under rocks or logs, but as they are cold blooded, the can sometimes be found warming themselves on top of rocks. Always keep your eyes on the trail and know where you are stepping.

If you encounter any large obstacle that crosses your trail, it is wise to see what is on the other side of the obstacle before proceeding past it. Snakes can potentially be found on the opposite side of large rocks or fallen trees that lie across trails. When you approach such obstacles do not jump over them. Take your time in crossing them. First peer over them by leaning slightly over them. Next climb onto the obstacle and peer over it until you can see that your way is free and clear of snakes or other dangers. When you are certain that the way is safe proceed past the obstacle.

It is helpful to point out that most snakes that are native to North America will only strike at humans to defend themselves. It is very rare for a snake to pursue a hiker and attack. In short most bites occur when humans approach snakes. With this knowledge, the best defense for a hiker is simply to spot a snake from as far off as possible, and then simply to avoid the snake.

If a snake is on or near the trail, wait for it to leave or find another way to where you are going. Never try to pass by a snake while it is on or near the trail. Keep your eye on the snake as it leaves until you are certain that it is far enough from the trail to safely pass.

If for some reason you find yourself close to a snake, slowly move away from it. Most animals are irritated and defensive of abrupt and sudden movements. If you can slowly move away from the snake, it is less likely to perceive you as a threat and will be less likely to strike at you.

What to do if you are bitten by a snake:

Don't panic. Try to be calm. Breathe normally, not quickly and try to keep your heart rate close to normal. The faster your heart beats, the faster blood will travel through the body and the faster your body will be affected by the symptoms caused by venom.

If bitten on an arms or legs, try to keep them below the level of your heart. DO NOT raise your arms or elevate your legs as this will assist your veins in returning venom tainted blood to your heart. By keeping the location of the bite below your heart, you can slow the circulation of the venom and prolong your time and chances of getting help.

If you must walk, do so at a rate that does not drastically increase your heart rate. Walk steadily but at an intensity that allows your heart to beat normally.

Call for help by calling 911 as soon as possible. Also notify a ranger in the area if one is available.

Bears
When hiking in areas where bears are prevalent, one of your greatest concerns is catching a bear by surprise. Bears may react defensively and violently when they are caught by surprise. For this reason it is generally accepted that when hiking in bear territory, it is a prudent precaution to make noise on the trail to alert bears to your presence. It is recommended that regular intervals of vocal calls and other noises be used to give bears warning of your approach. It may seem silly to make noise the entire time while hiking on a trail, but when weighed against turning a corner into a bear, the noise makes good sense. Most bears that hear human voices approaching will simply move away from the area.

It makes sense to use the word "bear" in your vocal calls while hiking. By using a phrase such as "Hey Bear!" or "Hello Bear!" others hiking on the same trail will understand that your persistent calling is for the purpose of avoiding bears. If you don't use the word "bear" in your calls people may think you are being rude or are just weird. So when in bear country, call out regularly as you hike and use the word bear.

Always carry bear pepper spray when hiking in bear country. Don't settle for personal pepper spray which comes in small containers and is most commonly used for protection against humans. Bear pepper spray is labled as such and comes in a large can that usually has a holster. Real bear spray with a holster is what you should have to defend yourself against bears. Bear pepper spray is no guarantee that a bear will not attack you, but next to a gun and live ammunition it is about your best bet for walking away from a bear attack.

Be sure you learn and understand how the bear pepper spray should be used. Although most will work similarly, read the instructions carefully so you will know and understand how to use it most effectively and what its limitations are.

While hiking on the trail look for signs of bears in the area. Bear tracks and scat (bear feces) may indicate a bear in the area. Be aware of these signs if they are present, make noise, and have your bear pepper spray ready just in case.

If you do encounter a bear, do not run away. Stand and face it. Raise your arms over your head and wave them up and down to make yourself look larger. If you run away, bears like other predators may see this as a sign of weakness which may motivate them to give chase. Bears can run in excess of 30 miles per hour, so you will not be able to out run them. Keep your children close to you and stand tall. Have your bear pepper spray in hand and ready to spray. If you do these things and the bear still charges you, you will have to use your bear pepper spray to deter the bear.

Once you have used your pepper spray, you may also have to defend yourself physically in order to thwart the bear attack if the pepper spray does not take effect immediately, or is somehow ineffective. It is commonly believed that it is best to stand and fight a black bear, whereas it is best to lie down and play dead with a grizzly bear.

At this point you are at your last line of defense. You will have to use your pocket knife or any other weapon you have available to defend yourself and your family from the bear. There is still hope that the pepper spray will take effect and the bear may retreat. If the bear continues to be aggressive, you will either have to fight or play dead depending on your situation, the type of bear, and what you decide is best for you and your family.

Mountain Lions (Cougars)
Mountain lions are another threat to consider when hiking with your family. Mountain lions occupy territory in most of the western states and can be found sparsely in other areas of the United States. Mountain lions are quite large cats that can weigh over 150 pounds.

Mountain lions hunt by concealing themselves and attempting to catch their prey by surprise. Typically a mountain lion will prey on animals that appear small and vulnerable. For this reason it is important to keep your children in close proximity to you at all times. Do not allow children to run off on their own, to venture beyond your sight, or to be where you can not get to them quickly. A first defense against mountain lions is staying together. Mountain lions are not as likely to attack a group as they are to attack an individual who looks like easy prey.

If you see a mountain lion while on a hike, gather your group together and get your hands on a animal repelling device. Do NOT run from the mountain lion, as this is likely to embolden the animal to give chase. Keep watching the animal and try to back away slowly. Maintain eye contact with the mountain lion and be prepared in case it charges. Try to appear larger than you are as with bears. Raise your arms above your head and raise and lower them. Stand as tall as you can and do not bend down or you will appear to be submissive and weak to the lion.

If the mountain lion charges you or anyone in your family, use animal repelling devices such as pepper spray or any weapon you have available. Never play dead with a mountain lion, but fight until it retreats.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

In any hiking emergency it is important to remain calm and to think about the best way to effectively seek help and solve the problem. It is very important not to panic but to know where you are and what you need to do to bring order to the emergency. By packing all of the essential items in your backpack and being aware of your surroundings you should be equipped to get a handle on the immediate threats and dangers, communicate your need for help by calling 911, or to find a way to move to a location where making a call is possible.

When you call for help be aware of your location and be able to describe prominent landmarks in the area that rescuers may be able to identify. If you have a trail map, use it to describe your approximate position and any landmarks on the map that are near your location. Be able to describe the exact nature of the emergency, and the type of help you are in need of. By using what you have available to you and remaining calm you will have the best chance of resolving your hiking emergency.

If you are unable to call for help and cannot move, use a whistle or flashlight to try to signal for help. Three blasts of a whistle is the universal signal of distress. Three flashes of a flashlight will also signal that you need help. As a very last resort, you may need to light a fire to be seen, but do so only when your survival is clearly at risk.

MAKE HIKING A FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Hiking is a fun and refreshing activity that the whole family can enjoy. In a world of concrete, cars, and technology it is a pleasure to escape to the untainted beauty of the wilderness. The peace and serenity one can find on a trail is something that can only be fully appreciated by answering the welcoming invitation of the wild. Hiking is a way to share with your family one of the last frontiers that has not yet been claimed by human development.

By starting with short hikes your family can get a feel for the experience of hiking. Get the kids involved in the fun. Allow the children to help in making decisions about where to go and what to do. Bring a small lunch and find a spot for a family picnic. Teach the children how following hiking etiquette and rules can actually make hiking more fun.In time longer hikes can be taken and more amazing sites can be explored. Before long you may find your whole family suiting up, with hearts eager for the next adventure in the natural world.

Experience the seasons and their colors first hand as the world passes through its phases. Enjoy the beauty and take pictures of the wonderful moments of hiking as a family. Pause for moments and listen to the sounds of the wind, and the scuttling of squirrels and birds who make their homes in nature. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful simplicity of earth's wild.

Hiking is a great way to unwind with your family in a healthy way. There are few activities that are so fun to do and such a great form of exercise. There is much to enjoy about hiking with your family. Hopefully this article will provide you with the information and motivation you need to give it a try.