Trekking - Safety & first aid

Get to know the basics

A basic knowledge of Safety and first aid while trekking should be high on a trekker's priority list especially if you plan on going to remote wilderness areas. Completing a recognised course in first aid is something that all trekkers should at least consider.

It's never about being reckless

The taking of calculated risks goes with the territory when you enter a remote wilderness area. You are, afterall 'in the jungle' so to speak. Not only is there a greater chance of injury due to the often rugged and unpredictable terrain, but there will be nowhere nearby to get help in a hurry if you need it. For this reason any risks that are taken should only be taken when absolutely necessary. This is particularly important for solo trekkers. Being in the outdoors is often about taking calculated risks. It is NEVER about being reckless.

Minimising the chance of an accident

There are lots of ways to minimise the risk of having an accident. Probably too many to mention but just about all accidents can be minimised by applying commonsense to all that you do outdoors.

• When trekking, always watch where you are placing your feet. This will minimise the chance of stepping on a loose rock and spraining an ankle or stepping on a snake that's too lazy to get out of your way - It happens!
  
• Avoid walking close to cliff edges if there is another way around.
  
• Use commonsense when crossing rivers. There is more about this subject on our skills & techniques page.
  
• The use liquid fuel to kick-start your camp fire can be extremely dangerous and therefore it is not recommended. Some of this stuff is highly volatile. A serious accident can happen in the blink of an eye.

Personal hygiene

Personal hygiene is of the utmost importance when trekking. Regardless of whether you're trekking through a third world country or through remote pristine wilderness you are going to be exposed to many more germs, microbes and bacteria than you will in an urban environment. The products that you use to keep clean will vary depending on the environment that you are in but the aim of the game is to keep your hands, face and cooking utensils as clean as possible, particularly at meal times so as to avoid infection and illness.