| A Hiking Checklist Keeps You Safe And Prepared |
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| Written by Isabella Coleman |
| Wednesday, 28 April 2010 10:24 |
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The best of hikers can still be caught by surprise sometimes during a well planned excursion. According to one of the members of the county sheriff department who lived through numerous California mountain hikes 19th century stories are an excellent source of survival info. He is of the belief that mistakes such as getting lost during the hike are preventable with the practice of good judgment.
Problems can strike hikers even seasoned ones at any point during treks which they are ill prepared for. Literature from the 19th century holds a wealth of info on hiking survival which is why a county sheriff department representative into California mountain treks recommends reading them. He is of the belief that mistakes such as getting lost during the hike are preventable with the practice of good judgment. Proper arrangements have to be made if a trek into the woods and wild is to be successful. A pocket knife along with a compass plus a flashlight and fire starter together with reserve foodstuffs and clothes in addition to a pair of shades and some maps as well as waterproof matches and a first aid set comprise the 10 must bring items on a hike. Be ready for any type of scenario. Search and rescue experts advise to do some planning for an unanticipated night in the wilds by supplementing the essentials with a space blanket, a whistle and a signal mirror, which can provide a flash of light when reflected off the sun. Light travels fast and is a great communicator. Location information of lost trekkers has frequently been made known with success using flash bulbs of cameras Whistles are handy tools for getting help but the trees can swallow the sound up or concealed by the water noises. Having mobile phones handy may not guarantee rescue amid hiking woes but they can still be used to place calls especially when in the front country area. Lost hikers usually wind up that way because they followed unmarked trails or detoured somewhere resulting in search parties being set up to find them. Sticking with established paths of you have no experience interpreting topographic maps. Being lost is no time to go exploring foreign paths especially if struck by panic so most search and rescue people advise not leaving the area you are presently in. A searcher will have fewer problems locating you if you are rooted in one spot so avoid moving around. STOP is an acronym many experts advise using. When feeling lost and panicky just STOP. Try and THINK of the last place you were certain of where you were. OBSERVE aspects of the place that could point to your true location. Take action but PLAN it out first. The plan could be staying put and getting some sleep if it is getting too dark. In this case, the top priority is keeping warm and dry. Gather up some tree boughs and leaves to stay comfy or use the space blanket you brought along. Keep the temperature of the inner body normal by feeding the body with whatever grub is available. Expert search and rescue people prefer children not to walk around so much when they are lost and just hug trees all the while not forgetting that someone is out there looking for them. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. To understand more about travel health insurance visit this resource. Learn more on the topic of overseas medical insurance. |