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.
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