Hiking, camping, and water recreation are just a few of the outdoor activities we love. We benefit from physical exercise and seeing nature's beauty firsthand. It is fun and rewarding but there are risks. Weather and temperature concerns, injury preparedness, and basic survival preparation are important factors everyone should consider as they venture away from home. Let's take a moment to look at these outdoor hiking and exploring safety tips to get your summer off in the right direction:
Temperature Concerns
Leaving home and venturing into the great outdoors means no more temperature-controlled shelter. The weather can influence your health. Physical exercise or simply being exposed to the elements can become dangerous if we are not prepared. Here are several weather and temperature concerns you should consider on your next outdoor hiking and exploring trek.
Hot Temperatures - Warm weather will cause us to sweat. This is a normal process our bodies use to help keep us cool. Be sure to stay hydrated and bring water and electrolyte replenishments. Be prepared to recognize symptoms of heat stroke and how to respond.
Cold Temperatures - Hypothermia is life-threatening. Be sure to bring extra clothes to layer as temperatures go up and down. If you get wet, those extra clothes you brought along will help keep you warm and dry. If temperatures go way down, you may need to seek shelter. Include an emergency-type blanket in your first aid kit in case you need to warm your body. The foil-type mylar blanket will help keep you warm.
Sun protection
Everyone knows how important it is to protect your skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet A and B rays.
Sunscreen - Proper sunscreen protection is critical to reduce your risk of radiation burns from the sun. Use sunscreen that is rated 15 or higher 20 minutes before exposure to the sun. Clothing - Dark clothing offers more protection for the covered skin. The tighter the weave, the more protection from the sun you will get.
Eye Protection - Reflective light from the sun can have harmful effects on your skin and eyes. Wear UV-rated sunscreen for added protection. We wrote a great article that
Injury Preparedness
You don't have to be away from home to get hurt but when you do, a well-equipped first aid kit is a must.
Bring a well-equipped first aid kit - Our best outdoor hiking and exploring safety tip is to bring supplies appropriate to the types of injury risks. For example, if you are going backpacking, consider including Benadryl, sting relief wipes, bandages for cuts and scrapes, burn gel for campfire burns or bad sunburn, and all of the other basic first aid supplies you would normally keep.
Make your own first aid kit - There is an online tool that allows you to make your own custom kit. It is easy to use. Simply pick your container, select the supplies and they ship you what you ordered. You can even save your custom kit for fast and easy reordering when you need to update your first aid supplies! Take a look at "Make-A-Kit Here".
Let others know where you will be - Be sure to have a way to communicate and call for help if necessary and always tell someone close to you where you will be adventuring so you can be located in case of an emergency.
Survival
Most won't be doing any extreme outdoor hiking and exploring but it is important to be prepared for an unexpected survival situation.
Basic survival supplies - Food, water, light, communication, shelter, and warmth are all elements to consider when you might be stranded. There are basic survival kits prepared as grab-and-go or adventuring-type kits. If for some reason you get stranded, these supplies could save your life. Consider your risks and plan appropriately.
Enjoy nature's beauty this summer as you have fun outdoor hiking and exploring. With a little preparation, you can protect yourself from the unexpected.
Outdoor Products & Accessories
MFASCO's Make a Kit Tool
Outdoor First Aid Kits
Allergy Relief Medications
Additional Resources for Outdoor Kits & Supplies
Top 8 First Aid Kit Types
5 Outdoor Health Tips - Part 1
Essential First Aid Kit Supply List
