-Home- -Trails- -Camping- -Picnicking-
Safety
In the event of an injury or accident
You should contact the local sheriff department by phone (dial 911 anywhere within the
local area). The sheriff is responsible for dispatch of deputy sheriffs, ambulance, search
and rescue, fire, and air rescue.
Weather
It is variable and changes rapidly, sometimes unexpectedly. Be prepared for anything.
Terrain
Ranges from level valleys to rocky, steep slopes. Sturdy, comfortable footwear is
important.
Water
The water in the high country is not suitable for drinking. However, most sources can
be purified. Several methods are suggested, however, none can guarantee removal of all the
harmful agents that may be present: Iodine tablets - boiling for 10 minutes - "water
filter" type purifiers. No one wants to become a giardia
host.
If you are lost
Loss of mental control is more serious than lack of food, water, or clothing. If lost
near dusk find shelter and make camp for the night. In the morning, things may seem
clearer. Light a campfire to keep warm if you do not have suitable clothing (make sure
your fire is out when you leave). Avoid getting wet. Shelter is important in severe
weather.
The following guidelines should help you if you remember them when you are lost:
1. Stop, sit down, and try to figure out where you are. Use your head, not your legs.
2. If caught by night, fog, or a storm, stop at once and make camp in a sheltered spot. Build a fire in a safe place. Gather plenty of dry fuel.
3. Don't wander about. Travel only downhill.
4. If injured, choose a clear spot on a mountain spur and make a signal smoke.
5. Don't yell, don't run, don't worry, and above all don't quit.
If You Are Sick
Hypothermia
This is a condition ultimately causing a lowering of the internal body temperature. If not treated at the first symptoms, it can be a killer.
Cause: wind, wetness, cold, exhaustion
Symptoms: uncontrollable shivering, clumsiness, incoherent, lack of coordination.
Treatment: Provide shelter (out of wind and rain); provide warmth (build a fire, put on warm, dry clothes, drink warm liquids and/or place the victim in a sleeping bag with someone else who is warm).
Remember: The important factor in hypothermia is to keep the victim warm and add warmth to his/her system.
Prevention: This can be prevented by: wearing proper clothing (use layers),
stopping before you are exhausted, wearing rain gear when it is raining (staying dry),
knowing your own limitations
Mountain Sickness
This condition is caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitude, resulting in a general "sick-all-over" feeling.
Cause: dehydration, lack of oxygen, exertion
Symptoms: Nausea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite
Treatment: Stop and rest, go slower, drink plenty of water (make sure you also get enough sodium, either in you food or salt tablets, eat high energy foods).
If this does not help after a period of time, the only other option is to return to a lower elevation where there is more oxygen.
Heat Exhaustion
Condition brought on by excessive exercise and loss of body fluids in hot, sunny weather.
Cause: dehydration, excessive heat, exertion
Symptoms: headache, dizziness, "flushed" feeling, nausea
Treatment: Get out of the sun, rest, drink plenty of fluids, replenish lost sodium (food or salt tablets). Try to lower body temperature. This is most frequent when hiking at lower elevations (5,000-9,000 feet).
Checklist
Day use - Extra gear needed for overnight use