Beginner First Aid Backpacking Advice: This Could Be Life Saving

Paying attention to and using backpacking advice of a practiced backpacker is one of the most important things that a beginner can do. This is particularly true of first aid advice. It is fundamental that you be aware of first aid basics for backpacking. Even with appropriate attention and preventive measures, injuries can arise. If it is a big injury services may not be readily available, so it can be fundamental that you are aware of basic first aid. Even the smallest of wounds should be dealt with. By utilizing this backpacking advice, you can have a safe trip.

The first aid kit is one of the most important objects you can take on your journey. Not only is it essential to have, but you should be comfortable with all of the items and how and when to use them. A basic first aid kit should contain the following products:

Band aids
Antibiotic ointment
Hydrocortisone cream
Moleskin
Alcohol
Ace bandages
Sanitize
Gauze
First aid tape
Cold pack

Prevention also is a major purpose in first aid. Avoiding incidents is one thing you should learn how to do. By applying this backpacking advice, you will be more careful on the trip and have a far better trip. Here is some backpacking advice for prevention:

Make sure equipment is in great physical condition and good working order.
Protective gear is essential.
Properly arrange your journey and make sure that somebody knows what place you will be in at particular times should you become missing.
Understand how to identify types of toxic plants and animals. Take a basic nature pamphlet that can assist you with this.

It is important to bear in mind that you can not avoid all accidents. This is why knowing first aid could be vital. If you can, enroll in a first aid training course at your area fire station. The best tidbit of backpacking advice I can give you is this: no injury is a small injury; be sure to handle each one.

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Learning To Hike – Ten Top Tips

Learning To Hike – Ten Top Tips

1. Bring a mobile phone in case of emergency. If you are in any danger and you find yourself in a situation where you require immediate help, a mobile phone may be your only hope.

2. Use a well marked trail with good quality tracks or paths. Consult an up to date map to double check the route you intend to take: this will be essential if you accidentally get lost or need to alter your route due to inclement weather.

3. Take the appropriate footwear and clothing. Running shoes and trainers will wear quickly and are not suitable for braving steep mountains and rocky terrain. Proper walking boots are essential for longer hikes and appropriate clothing is also important, taking into account the temperature and the weather conditions.

4. Consider becoming a member of a local hiking club or organisation there you could join with more experienced hikers. They can offer valuable advice and insight into popular routes and those to avoid. This will also be a good opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

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5. Take note of the weather forecast and be prepared for sharp drops in temperature when hiking up high mountains on dry, sunny days. Wind speeds will generally be gale force on high ground during unsettled weather so it is essential to properly plan your hiking trips and to consider postponing if the weather forecast is poor. Be extra careful in wintry weather when icy paths and rocks can be especially hazardous.

6. You must be in a good physical condition to take on long and challenging hikes, especially those involving a significant degree of climbing and steep trails. Do not do not overwork yourself and take a long rest whenever you need to – hiking needn’t be a race! If you plan on hiking regularly, be sure to take rest days so that your body can fully recover from a long day of exercising.

7. Take plenty of water, regardless as to the time of year. Even in low temperatures the body can dehydrate after prolonged exercise. Also ensure you have plenty of sandwiches or pre-cooked meals stored in a lunch box – you will be burning hundreds of calories and will need the energy.

8. Do not overload yourself with baggage – only bring essentials. A heavy backpack will cause back and shoulder pain, which will slow you down. When travelling as a group, make sure that each person carries a fairly equal amount in line with their size.

9. Bring a well-stocked first aid kit which must have sufficient medical supplies for all members of the group. Even on smaller hiking trails, a first aid kit will prove invaluable when the nearest hospital is several hours away.

10. Hike in areas with which you are familiar in order to gain experience. You can subsequently venture into the unknown, having first had some experience of long-distance hiking. If you are heading to a foreign country, get to know the language – this will be essential in an emergency. It is also another reason to travel in groups, with the objective of ensuring that at least one member of the party has a workable grasp of the local language.

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Hiking In A Foreign Country

Hiking In A Foreign Country

The following are our top 10 tips when planning to hike abroad:-

1. Never travel alone, whether you are out hiking for the day or leaving your hotel for five minutes. Travellers are primary targets for muggers and other criminals, but travelling in numbers will always offer a significant level of extra protection against becoming a victim of such crime.

2. Ensure that family, friends and a local contact, if at all possible, are all informed as to the full plans for your journey. Get in touch to update them on your progress at regular intervals wherever possible. This way, if you are midway through a hike with no means of communication, people who may otherwise contact the authorities out of concern will be suitably informed.

3. Always carry an inexpensive mobile phone with spare batteries, keeping it concealed wherever possible when in public places. Keep a separate list of important phone numbers, including that of the British embassy, in case your phone develops a fault and you are forced to use another means of contact.

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4. Leave inessential valuables such as MP3 players and jewellery in your hotel’s safe or another secure and trusted location. Whilst hiking, carry only a certified copy of your passport, available from the embassy.

5. Your wallet should contain nothing more than sufficient cash for your immediate needs and no more than one credit card. Other belongings such as personal details, photos and so on should be removed prior to your trip and left in a safe place; at home if at all possible.

6. Carry a good quality GPS system, topographic maps of all areas you intend to visit and a high quality, accurate compass. Refer to them all at regular intervals, marking your position closely and keeping a record of your progress. You should regularly check your current position against your intended route and make sure that you are sticking to it as closely as possible.

7. Make sure you are fully aware as to any climate differences and that you are physically capable of hiking in conditions which may be different to those of your usual hikes. Take extra care when hiking in high altitude, keeping to a slower pace than usual in order to allow your body to adjust gradually.

8. Avoid hiking near country borders. You run the risk of accidentally straying over the border and in doing so could easily run into serious trouble with border guards, security officials or other authorities on the other side.

9. Don’t rely on the advice of locals for security information. Always seek professional security advice regarding your destination from the British embassy and perhaps consider taking a skilled and trusted guide to accompany you; someone who has considerable experience of the area in which you plan to hike will always prove a valuable companion.

10. Pay attention to government travel warnings. If travel advisories feel it necessary to release these warnings, it is with good reason that they do so. This advice should not be dismissed as being over cautious and should make travellers seriously consider rescheduling or cancelling a trip.

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Taking Hiking Trips With Your Dog

Nothing beats taking a hike in the lap of nature. Getting away from the hustle bustle of daily life and enjoying life in its natural state- we all should opt for hiking once in a while. Of course, regular hikes help us remain fit as well. The best companion for a hike is your pet dog.

 

Dogs may have been domesticated by man but they still are better than us when it comes to the rough life of the jungle. You will have a loyal ally by your side if you take your pet dog along. There are many instances where pet dogs saved the lives of their owners after mishaps during hiking.

 

There are some things which you must consider when taking your pet dog along on hiking trips. The most important factors are listed below:

 

o  Make sure your pet dog is healthy enough to accompany you on the hiking trip. Take your pet dog to your veterinarian and get your dog checked. Never take an unhealthy dog on such a trip. You will face numerous problems if your dog falls seriously ill.

o  Make sure your pet dog is acclimatized for the hike. We take lots of precautions to protect our feet and other body parts from excessive strain during the hike. You cannot get shoes for your pet dog. The next best thing is to make sure the dog is used to the strain.
o  The best way to condition your dog is to take it for long walks on a daily basis. Start out with a short distance and keep on increasing the distance until you are sure that the pet is ready for the hike.
o  You can also resort to activities like jogging, tennis-ball fetch, and swimming to get your dog into good shape.
o  After conditioning the heart of your pet, take care to toughen up the toes. The pads of your dog’s foot should be capable of bearing the strain. A dog with a bleeding foot pad can become a very heavy burden on the hike.
o  Prepare your dog’s ID tag and license and make sure the rabies inoculation is up to date. Get your vet to insert a microchip to ensure your pet dog can be found very easily.
o  Never forget the fact that trail restrictions are for your safety. Ignore them at your own peril. If the trail requires the dog to be put on leash, obey the rule. Further, make sure you clean up the mess caused by your dog on the trail.

 

Keep Track Of Your Dog After You Arrive At Your Hiking Site

 

Respect the ‘No Dogs Allowed” sign. Do not insist on taking your dog inside. The smarter way out is to simply find a dog friendly park. These parks allow dogs under voice control to be taken off the leash.

 

Do not take your dog to such a park unless you have trained the dog well to obey your commands. If you have a pup, use a ten foot long leash to train the pup to come back to you when you call it. If the pup refuses to obey, use the leash to keep it under control.

 

Article by Kelly Marshall of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com – the place to find free shipping on dog toys in over 100 different models

 

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