Hiking is a great way of getting your body fit, healthy and
active, as well as boosting your self-confidence. However, as with any outdoor
activity, it is important to stay safe and be well-prepared for any emergency
situation. From map reading to emergency food, here's the realbuzz.com guide to
staying safe when out hill walking.
Learn to navigate when walkingEven if you will be walking with a group you should still learn
the basics of route planning,
navigation and how to use a map and compass yourself. After all, if the
group leader should have an accident who is going to lead you off the hill?
Rudimentary map reading skills are very quick and easy to learn.
Preparation and planning for a walkTake time to plan and prepare for your walking trip. This will
be time well spent and the chances of having a successful and enjoyable trip
will be far higher if you have prepared well.
Be safe when walkingWhen taking up hiking it is a very easy and common mistake to
underestimate the amount of time you will be out meaning you could be caught
out after sunset. Learn to use ‘Naismith’s
Rule’ to accurately estimate the
time your route will take. (Naismith's rule is a rule of thumb that helps in the planning of a walking or hiking
expedition by calculating how long it will take to walk the route, including
ascents. The rule was devised by William W. Naismith, a Scottish mountaineer,
in 1892. The basic rule is as follows)
Emergency foodAlways carry emergency food such as high-energy, low-weight food bars.
Emergency communications when out walkingAlways take your phone
with you (sealed in a waterproof bag) when you are out on the hills. In the
event of an emergency it will save valuable time if you are able to contact the
emergency services immediately.
First aid when out walking in the countryIt is well worth taking the time to invest in some basic first
aid training as this is useful knowledge to have, not only for hiking and
mountaineering.
Weather forecastingA basic understanding of mountain weather can go a long way to
increasing your safety on the hills. Being able to predict the weather either prior to your journey or during your
walk is an invaluable tool. This is unlikely to be learned quickly and will
come with experience of spotting ‘telltale’ signs in cloud formations, changes
in wind direction and other factors to be helping predict future conditions.
Actions in an emergencyNo-one wants to think that an accident will ever happen to them
but it would be fool-hardy to think that this will always be the case. Take
some time to prepare for, and practice actions on different types of emergency.
High levels of training mean you will react without having to think, which is
beneficial since decision making abilities are severely impaired in stressful
conditions.
v
Don’t rush. Remain calm
otherwise a minor mishap can turn into a major incident.
v
Quickly assess the casualty's
condition.
v
Determine if they can be treated and evacuated by the party or
if external assistance is
required.
v
Call for external assistance if it is needed using your phone.
If you have no network signal then someone needs to leave to get help. Never leave a casualty unattended
unless it is completely unavoidable (if walking as a pair). At least two fit
and reliable members of the party should be sent. Write down the grid-reference
and a description of the location, as well as the casualty’s injuries to take
to the rescue services. This is when a GPS receiver can prove invaluable in determining
your exact location to give to rescue teams.
v
Move the casualty to shelter and keep them warm, hydrated and reassured (but,
never move a casualty if you suspect any spinal injuries).
v
Never move far from your path or trail as this is where mountain
rescue teams will focus their search. If you need to find shelter then leave a sign such as an arrow of
stones indicating your direction to the rescue team
Click here for more advice www.realbuzz.com
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