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Step 1
• Carry your own water. Don’t drink from lakes or streams, unless you can boil and purify the water. Remember, you’ll need at least two quarts per person per day; in warm weather or on long hikes, you’ll need more.
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Step 2
•If you unexpectedly encounter an animal, don’t panic, but calmly walk away. Surprise or panic may provoke the animal into dangerous behavior.
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Step 3
• Bring sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher). Be sure to apply it over all exposed skin.
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Step 4
• Wear long pants and boots when hiking, to reduce your risk of tick bites and Lyme Disease.
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Step 5
• Check weather forecasts for possible rain, storms, or snow. Have a plan on where to seek shelter if the weather changes for the worse.
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Step 6
• Bring a first aid kit with gauze, bandages, and surgical tape. A complete kit could include snake bite antidote (depending on your part of the country); pain relievers; antiseptic creams or lotions; hydrocortisone (for bites or stings); calamine lotion for poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac; cotton swabs; tweezers; and scissors.
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Step 7
• Be sure to let a family member, neighbor or friend know where you’ll be camping and when you expect to return.
Comments
jull14 said
on 7/9/2009 Excellent article, thanks for sharing this important information for many of us. Very easy to follow. Keep up the good work.