Stay Safe

The best tool needed for survival in the event you get lost outdoors is your skill of advanced planning. You must expect the unexpected and plan accordingly. Even if you are going out for just a few hours, pack enough essentials that you can stay hydrated, fueled and prepared for any type of weather. 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/if-you-get-lost

An adventure into the great outdoors has many benefits, including social, cultural and historic value. The outdoors also can help us relieve our stress, exercise our weary minds and muscles and connect us to not just nature but our family, friends and ourselves. With an outdoors adventure comes a sense of responsibility, especially when it comes to safety. Please remember, you are responsible for the safety of yourself and for those around you. 

Ensure your trek outdoors is a positive one. Know what you’re doing, how to do it right and how to do it safely.

Sunny weather can make for very enjoyable days on your National Forests, but it only takes minutes to damage your skin. The sun is constantly bathing exposed skin and even your eyes with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Even on cool and cloudy days, sun damage is possible if you don’t take precautions. As uncomfortable and unsightly as sunburn is, the damage isn’t limited to that. UV radiation damages the DNA in your skin. The effects are cumulative and can lead to skin cancer. The good news is that it is easy to protect yourself. 

https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-uv

There are inherent risks associated with water recreation and sports. Many of the dangers linked to boating, water skiing, swimming, diving and water activities can be avoided by taking precautions. Remember, an estimated 60 percent of drownings are witnessed, and have the potential to be prevented.

Safety Checklist:

• Learn to swim: Formal swimming lessons can prevent drowning. Teach children to swim at a young age. Constant and careful supervision around water is still necessary, even when children have completed swimming classes.
• Wear a life jacket: The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of more than 80 percent of victims who die in boating accidents. All occupants of a boat should wear a life jacket at all times when on or near the water. Air-filled toys and foam toys are not life jackets.
• Never go boating under the influence: Avoid drinking alcohol and using controlled substances when boating, water skiing and swimming. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
• Supervise children: Designate a responsible adult to watch young children. Caretakers of preschool children should provide touch supervision—be within an arm’s reach of the child at all times. Adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards or talking on the phone) while supervising children.
• Don’t swim alone: Always swim with a buddy. Select a swimming site that has a lifeguard when possible.
• Learn CPR: In the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save a life.
• Look before you leap: Check water depth before diving and only dive into familiar waters. It is never safe to dive from or jump off of rock cliffs, ledges and man-made structures.
• Learn safe boating practices: Operator error accounts for 70 percent of boating accidents. Take a boating safety course. Wear a helmet when navigating whitewater streams.

The best way to enjoy your time on your National Forests and Grasslands is to be safe, and to be prepared for all sorts of events. These are just a few of the ways in which you can be safe, and a few of the scenarios you might come up against. Really, the best advice? 

Be like a Scout: Be Prepared. Make sure people know where you are going, whether you're going alone or with someone else, and what situations you should be prepared for. Most importantly? Have fun!

The best way to treat injuries is to avoid them. When hiking or walking on trails, it is important to take preventative measures.

Avoid potential hazards and threats to your health by:

• Stay on developed trails or dry, solid rock areas with good footing. Think about your footing while traveling near cliffs.
• Trees and bushes can’t be trusted to hold you.
• Share your plans. Tell someone where and when you are going, when you expect to return and how many individuals are in your party.
• Know your limits. Be in appropriate physical condition for your planned activity.
• Set a comfortable pace as you hike. A group trip should be designed for the least experienced or capable member of the group.
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the trail conditions and season.
• Be weather wise. Keep an eye on current and predicted weather conditions.
• Learn basic first aid. Know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses. Carry a first aid kit with you.
• Establish your camp before dark. Traveling after dark has resulted in many accidents from falls, so travel only during daylight. Set up camp well away from the edge of cliffs and learn the terrain during daylight. If you have to leave camp after dark, stay in areas you have seen in daylight, go with a friend and always use a good flashlight.
• Watch your step. Be alert for slippery areas and take your time to avoid tripping. Low-hanging branches and variable terrain make running unsafe. Leaves can hide slippery areas underneath. Log crossings can be especially dangerous. Find alternate routes across streams.

First Aid Checklist

• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze elastic wrap for sprains
• Antiseptic
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Digital thermometer
• Antibacterial and antifungal ointments/creams
• 1% hydrocortisone cream
• Moleskin for blisters
• Aloe gel for sunburns
• Lubricating eye drops
• First aid quick reference card