Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘safety’

Two of the most thrilling outdoor activities for individuals and families would have to be backpacking or hiking. When choosing an outdoor activity with such an element of the unknown it is important to prepare for every scenario before heading off on the backpacking or hiking trail. Backpacking or hiking requires supplies and essentials to make the event more safe and secure.

Sun Protection. Sun protection is very important when backpacking or hiking. Sun protection comes in several forms and all need to be covered. The skin is the first line of protection against the sun while backpacking or hiking, sunscreen should be waterproof and offer an SPF of at least 30. The second area to protect while backpacking or hiking are the eyes. The sun can be bright and cause sudden spots of blindness, which is something that is never needed when backpacking or hiking. Sunglasses and an extra pair or two, should always be packed.

Be safe. Safety is another huge concern when backpacking or hiking. Letting others in your group know where you are in case of an accidental separation is easy with a whistle. The time of the year when the backpacking or hiking trip is taking place will determine which type of whistle is needed. For winter months a plastic whistle with no ?pea? is just right to prevent the ?pea? from freezing or the whistle from freezing to your lips.

The fluid of life. Water will be the largest part of the backpacking and hiking trip. With constant movement comes the constant need for water. Every team member will be packing water for the trip, but for safety, a constant water supply will need to be assured. An outdoor water filtration device can turn any water into drinkable water in a few minutes.

Fire Starter. A fire is the center of warmth and food when backpacking or hiking. Bringing along a firestarter or some waterproof matches can mean a world of difference when stuck out overnight at a camp. Backpacking and hiking is supposed to be fun, but without fire the night can be long and cold.

First aid first. A first aid kit should be prepared for every backpack used during the backpacking and hiking trip. If only one packer has access to a first aid kit, the other hikers will be unable to provide first aid in the case that the group loses touch with each other. A first aid kit should include a pocket knife and a set of pocket tools for everyone.

Know Your Way. A map and a compass are two things that no backpacking or hiking can do without. These will keep you going in the right direction when things get turned around. Each pack should have their own set for guidance. On a more advanced tip, many backpacking or hiking trips are being centered on the new GPS technologies making getting lost even more difficult.

Backpacking and hiking are two fantastic ways to spend some time out of doors. When properly prepared, a backpacking and hiking team can enjoy their time and experience and safe and fun filled trip together. These essentials are just a few of the things that are needed for each and every backpacking or hiking trip.

If you do not own a flashlight or have one in your home, you should really consider purchasing one. Flashlights can come in handy for many different tasks around the house. It can help your children have a better time playing or help you finish the project that you need.

When the kids go out to play a night time game of hide and seek in the neighbor’s yards, they will feel more secure and have a better time if they have a flashlight. They can change the rules to the game and make it so that if the beam of light from the flashlight hits you, you are out. It will also inform oncoming traffic that they are there and should be careful as they approach that area of the block.

Many people are saving their money these days and work on their own cars when they break down. If this is the case than a flashlight being kept in the garage may come in handy. Sometimes it is difficult to see down in to the engine area and a flashlight can make it much easier to see what the problem is and how to get it fixed.

When the power goes out due to a severe storm, having a flashlight handy can be a great thing. It always seems that if you need to find a flashlight in the dark, all of the kid’s toys and shoes will be in the way on the floor. That or you will stub your toes on the furniture while stumbling around in the dark. Finding a flashlight can really be treacherous.

Flashlights come in many different sizes. You can purchase a flashlight small enough to fit in your purse or pocket. They also put flashlights built in to a door key so you just push a button and your key hole is lit up for you. Flashlights also come in very large sizes. The size you purchase will ultimately depend on what you need it for.

Keeping batteries available for your flashlight is also a good idea since many flashlights run on battery power. You can find flashlights that run on a rechargeable battery pack. All you need to do then is to keep it plugged in so that the batteries will be ready. You can even find a flashlight that will recharge itself by shaking it for a few moments. These are really great so you don’t have to worry about batteries or battery packs.

Flashlights can be made of several different materials. The most common and probably least expensive are the flashlights that are made of plastic. The plastic flashlights tend to be very light and easy to hold for an extended amount of time.

Steel and metal are also used to make flashlights. Security guards and construction workers tend to use the steel or metal flashlights more often. Because there are so many things that can happen to a flashlight, such as falling off of a high building, they are made to last. They will more than likely not be damaged in a fall if they are metal or steel.

When you consider all of the uses for a flashlight you will surely begin to wonder why you have not invested a few for your home. No matter what you need a flashlight for, it is definitely a good idea to have one in your home and readily available should you need it.

Jim Carson writes and reviews flashlights in his flashlight review blog. He used many kinds of flashlight and recommends the best flashlights to his readers. You can find reviews such as led flastlight reviews in his blog.

Given the many outdoor-related television shows and You Tube videos available it becomes clear how important outdoor survival skills are to surviving the wilderness. Because there is so much to consider, what are the 5 most important survival skills to know and apply?

While all these presentations help, it is still the time you take to answer the following 5 questions that can make or break your level of preparation and prevention for your next adventure.

Therefore, can you answer yes to each of these questions? And is your answer a resounding yes! More important, can you prove you know and can apply the answers.

Remember it is one thing to learn about wilderness and outdoor survival skills; it is yet another to be conversant and practiced in the skills.

1) Can you build a 60 minute or less shelter to minimize effort and converse energy “for the seasonal activity?” Link the equipment you are carrying with you with the available resources around you. Be attentive to the balance between shelter construction versus effort.

2) What does it mean to stay found if assistance is needed along the trip? Everyday, stories are heard and read where lost people kept moving and became ill/injured. Unless where you are is dangerous, stay in one place, stay found! Think through ways to alert rescuers from this base of operations. That is of course “your friends or family have set in motion your rescue if you do not report in according to plan.

3) Of the available signalling devices, which ones will work best along the trip? While the whistle is a great start, it is not helpful in signally an aircraft. Also, not all rescues happen on sunny days and some rescuers can arrive at night. Of the devices you carry with you, make sure you are practiced in their use.

4) Can you start a fire in less than 30 minutes for the weather conditions you’ll encounter along your trip? Watching others play in starting a fire can be amusing. When within reach is everything they need, and yet they are unaware of the resources. And it is amazing how many neat and nifty fire starting devices are available in your home to carry with you like cotton balls, lint and petroleum jelly.

5) What water collection techniques make sense for the trip you are taking? There are many ways to gather water. Scan your survival books and prowl the Internet to find examples appropriate to your upcoming trip. Water is an essential element of a successful trip. Therefore, you need to replenish it to stay alert to what is happening in you and around you.

In answering these questions, if you wavered in any way, and you are about to leave on your next adventure get yourself to the next available wilderness survival workshop and practice and learn, and learn and practice.

Prevention is Queen; Preparation is King