Safety

Hiking Safety

Hiking can be a very enjoyable and safe activity. However, there are inherent risks in hiking. These risks can be mitigated by safety procedures. These risks include:

Physical injuries, such as ankle sprain. Hikers can injure themselves due to a misstep or fall. Poor judgement on steep or slippery slopes can lead to injury. Carrying a backpack may make a hiker more cumbersome. The risk of injury can be decreased with the use of proper shoes (e.g., hiking boots). Injuries can also be minimized by thinking carefully before putting oneself in harms way.
- Foot blisters are a common form of minor physical injury to hikers. They can be avoided by wearing well-fitted boots, or by using moleskin on the area of the foot that is starting to blister.
Dehydration can rapidly incapacitate a hiker, especially in warm weather. In conditions of low humidity, sweat evaporates so quickly that a hiker may not notice the water loss. Dehydration can be avoided by carrying and drinking an adequate amount of water. Depending on conditions, two liters of water may be enough for a day hike, but in high heat conditions (such as hiking the Grand Canyon, one liter per hour may be required. [1] (http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/dayhike/smart.htm). Extensive sweating may also deplete a hiker's body of sodium.
Replenishing water, but not sodium, can result in hyponatremia. Thus, salty snacks along with water are also recommended.
Heat exhaustion, possibly developing into heatstroke, can occur during high-temperature hikes, particularly if one is dehydrated or dressed too warmly. The risk of heatstroke can be minimized by avoiding hiking in the direct sun if the temperature is too high, and staying wet when possible. This is a life-threatening condition: a victim must be cooled off and gotten to a hospital immediately.
Conversely, hypothermia is a risk particularly to hikers at higher altitudes or latitudes. Wet clothing (due to rain, sweat, etc.) is a major risk factor, and can cause hypothermia even in warm weather. Hypothermia can result in death if the victim's body temperature drops very low. Even if it does not kill the victim directly, it causes confusion, irrationality and impaired judgment, raising the risk of other injuries. Hypothermia risk can be minimized with proper clothing. Cotton clothing is often discouraged, for its ability to absorb and hold water. Packing extra layers of clothing decreases the risk of hypothermia.
Frostbite can occur when bare skin is exposed to very low temperatures. For very low-temperature hiking, clothing can be arranged to minimize the amount of exposed skin.
If deprived of food for several days, hikers may become malnourished. A human can survive for weeks without food, but malnutrition causes impaired judgment. Low blood sugar may have a similar effect. Carrying extra food will minimize risk to the hiker.

In many parks, hiking trails are clearly labelled.

Hikers may become lost, either if a hiking party cannot find its way, or if a hiker becomes separated from the party and cannot find it again. Lost hikers who cannot find their way to their destination on time may run out of food and water, or experience a change in weather, exacerbating the risk of hiking hazards. Staying on marked trails certainly helps, but trails do not exist in some areas. Carrying a map and compass and knowing how to use them will decrease the risk of getting lost. Likewise, a Global Positioning System may prove invaluable, as it can pinpoint a hiker's location, revealing exactly where on the globe they are. A communication device, such as a cell phone or a satellite phone, may help in the case of an emergency. However, cell phone coverage in wilderness areas is often quite poor. Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service radios may be helpful, especially if hikers become separated from others in their group. Informing people outside of the hiking group of the itinerary and expected finishing time increases the safety of the group.
In many areas, hikers may encounter large animals such as bears or cougars. Wild-animal attacks may occur when hikers come upon an unsuspecting animal and surprise it. Also, animals such as bears can become accustomed to gathering food from human property. These encounters can also result in attacks against humans. The risk of surprising an animal can be mitigated by making noise, whether by clapping and yelling regularly, tapping a stick against rocks, or wearing a "bear bell".

All of the risks listed above may be mitigated by hiking in a group. Other hikers in a group can administer first aid or seek help. In emergencies, groups of hikers can pool their muscle power, brain power, and body heat.