4 Important Safety Tips for Those New To Hiking

Hiking provides millions of people with a great deal of pleasure and a sense of adventure each year and 99% of the time it is anything but dangerous. However, people do get lost and have accidents every now and a again and it can become a dangerous activity very quickly if you are not prepared.

Here we look at are just 4 simple safety tips to ensure that your hiking trips don’t get you into difficulty.

Safety Tip No1 – Consider taking a partner of friend along.

There’s really no need to worry about setting off by yourself if you’re taking a short hike in a nearby area on easy terrain, however, if you are hiking through heavily wooded wilderness areas with winding trails and steep canyons then the likelihood of getting lost or sustaining injury becomes very real and you should think carefully about whether or not it is sensible to head out alone.

Taking a partner along has many advantages, especially if that individual is a seasoned hiker. Obviously, ‘two heads are better than one’ and if you do become lost or run into difficulty you’re far less likely to panic if you have somebody with you to help solve the problem.

Safety Tip No 2 – Ensure that someone knows where you’re going.

If you are a novice hiker then you ought to certainly stick to clearly marked and well traveled routes and ought not to stray from these routes to explore until you have gained some experience and have had an opportunity to learn and practice the basics of map and compass work. However, it will not be too long before you’re ready to tackle some more adventurous routes and the possibility of getting injured or lost will arise.

As a consequence, you should always tell somebody where you are going and when you plan to return so that they can dispatch a search party if you don’t return when expected.

Safety Tip No 3 – Take along some basic equipment.

It’s essential to carry a basic survival kit with you and your local hiking club will give you advice on the items which this should include. What we’re looking at here are things like a lighter and matches, a good knife, a first aid kit and a flashlight.

It is also a good idea to have a map and compass with you and a fully charged cell phone.

Safety Tip No 4 – Take some basic provisions with you.

Water or other fluids such as sports drinks are essential as you can lose a great deal of fluid even over a short period of time on a hot day. You should note though that water is bulky, so take enough but not too much. Don’t forget though that you must not drink from local streams as natural water sources may appear to be inviting but they are often filled with bacteria and may make you sick very quickly.

Also take enough food to last you. It is no fun to be hungry while you are out hiking but remember that you can last a good deal longer without food than without water.