Outdoor adventures are healthier and more fun than any other activity—you get to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, physical activity and connection with nature. However, adventures in the outdoors don’t come without risks. While most hikes and camping trips go without a hitch, it’s best to be prepared in case something goes wrong. Here are a few most important safety tips for comfortable and positively exciting outdoor adventures:
Never Go Alone
First of all, before you start packing any gadgets and safety kits, it’s important to know one thing: the best thing for safety in the wild is to have a reliable friend with you. Numbers offer safety, and spending time alone in nature opens up a lot of doors for trouble. What happens if you twist your ankle and you’re miles away from civilization? If you’re alone, you would need to go through a lot of pain, fear and even embarrassment of having to call for help (even though that’s not embarrassing at all).
Wear the Right Clothing
Outdoor adventurers don’t have to worry about fashion, because there’s no one in nature to judge your poor outfit choices. However, the wrong kind of wear can quickly ruin your perfect outdoor adventure. Just imagine having to hike for miles in uncomfortable shoes or having to freeze in your t-shirt because you forgot to pack a jacket. Always check the weather app before embarking and pack plenty of quality layers to keep you cool during daily activities and toasty during the night.
Pack a Good Knife
There are many gadgets you need when adventuring in the wild, such as a lighter, satellite radio, portable stove, etc. However, you can theoretically do just fine without all of them if you have the skills. However, there’s one thing that can’t be left at home—a good knife. And don’t think that you need a giant machete! The safest and most practical options are smaller but reliable OTF knives that adventurers can keep at hand at all times. These are practical for everything from cooking tasks to hunting and foraging and even protection. Always have an automatic knife near and you’re guaranteed to whip it out dozens of times a day while in nature.
Stay Hydrated
On your outdoor adventures, you can often come across plenty of food—berries, mushrooms, edible greens, fish, bird eggs, etc. Plus, you can also survive for weeks without any food at all. Water, on the other hand, is a daily necessity that you very rarely can simply find lying around. The water you find in the forest can often be contaminated, so you need to boil it or filter it. It’s best if you can pack a lot of water and carry it with you, otherwise, you’ll need a good filtration system and some tablets to finish the job.
Bring a First Aid Kit
Outdoor adventures are usually pretty safe and most injuries that happen are very minor scrapes and blisters. However, it’s best to have a good first aid kit at hand in case something happens. Even these small injuries listed above can be made better with some ointment and band-aid. And bigger health issues like deep cuts, sprains and allergic reactions will greatly benefit from the content of your first aid kit—bandages, disinfectants, pain killers and antihistamines.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
If you’re hiking in the summer, having a fun beach camping adventure or going on an extreme snow expedition, you’ll need to have plenty of sunscreen. Sunburns can lead to serious pain and can ruin your adventure to the point of having to return home due to a fever. A sunscreen tube is small, and you can always put it in your backpack, so there are no excuses.
Safety always comes first, and outdoor adventures are not an exception. If you pack well, dress well and practice safe behaviors, you’ll always have a fun, safe and successful outdoor adventure.