safety tips

  • HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Hiking Safety and First Aid 101

    You probably already know the benefits of spending time outdoors; healthier minds and healthier bodies. We want everyone to spend as much time as possible outdoors,  and hiking is a great way to get immersed in nature and get some exercise. However, it is important to be familiar with hiking safety and first aid, especially when you’re hiking with kids. Today, we are so lucky to have our Creative Team member and resident RN, Ashley here with some common hiking injuries and tips on how to avoid them. She’s got helpful and practical advice on how to prevent hiking injuries such as blisters, sunburns and dehydration, and provides first aid advice on what to do if something does go wrong. She’s also included a list of what to pack in your hiking first aid kit to keep your family safe. 

    Prevention is the best medicine

    As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Hiking safety is all about thinking ahead and avoiding simple mistakes. Most of the dangerous situations you are likely to encounter in the wilderness can often be prevented. Obviously, there are other things that are preventable and accidents happen. So, take the precautions that you can and always hike with a First Aid kit for such other situations. 

    Today, I’ll walk you through how to prevent some of the most common hiking injuries and setbacks – blisters, dehydration, and sunburn.  Each of these injuries can be prevented with a little forethought and preparation. When out hiking (by yourself or with kids), it’s always best to think ahead and avoid these common hiking maladies. 

    Hiking safety tips and first aid

    How to prevent blisters 

    Oh, the horror of the stinging, painful, adventure-ending, all-too-common blister. Blisters are miserable and can turn an otherwise lovely hike into a march of pain. Both kids and adults can easily get blisters from improper footwear. Blisters are painful, but luckily, they’re also usually avoidable with the right socks and shoes. We never want getting outdoors to be expensive or overly-burdensome, but sometimes the right gear is worth the cost. Purchasing the correct socks and shoes can be some of the best money you’ll spend, particularly if hiking is something you do (or want to do) often. If you invest in a good combination of sturdy shoes and good moisture-wicking socks, you have less chance of getting blisters, twisted ankles, and sore feet. 

    We’ve been hiking with our girls since they were newborns and have continued hiking year-round with them. We started hiking with them in a Baby Bjorn, moved onto baby carriers, and then to the beautiful milestone of them hiking on their own two feet! We’ve hiked hundreds of miles together and have tried tons of different brands and styles. The shoes and socks I’m recommending below have been tried and tested by us and I feel confident recommending these items to you.

    Best hiking shoes and socks for kids

    Hiking shoes

    The right hiking shoes can make all the difference between an amazing hike and a miserable one. A good rule of thumb when purchasing hiking shoes is to buy a pair a half-size bigger than your foot (or your child’s foot). With heat, sweat, constant changes in terrain, and pace, our feet swell. Swollen feet = more friction, which equals more risk of blisters. Hiking shoes should also have a hard sole. Trust me, after walking a half-day on granite, your feet will thank you.  A good pair of hiking shoes or boots can last you between 500-1000 miles! 

    Hiking socks

    Now that you have great shoes, what about socks? Will your everyday cotton, low-ankle socks be fine? Likely no – you might end up with blisters. Good socks are just as important as good hiking shoes. When choosing the right socks, you’ll want to make sure you consider height, padding, fit, and fabric. You need socks that are high enough to protect your skin from abrasions (from your shoes/boots), a decent amount of padding (to cushion your feet and provide warmth), the right size (so your feet aren’t slipping around inside your sock), and the right fabric (usually a wool-blend). 

    • Best hiking socks for adults: Farm-to-Feet hiking socks. This is such a great brand and they make incredible wool-blend, moisture-wicking socks. They’re fast to dry, with fun designs, and are made in the USA. 
    • Best hiking socks for children: SmartWool. SmartWool is an amazing brand for kids’ hiking socks. They’re also made from a moisture-wicking wool-blend, are not bulky, and they have fun designs for little kids. 

    Hiking Safety - how to prevent blisters and how to treat them

    Keep them dry

    Wet socks while hiking are a recipe for blister disaster. And kids are notorious for getting their feet wet (creek or stream crossings, lakes, jumping in puddles, etc.). Always carry a spare pair of socks for each kid on a hike, just in case. If your kids feet get wet, sit down, remove the socks and let their feet dry. Once dry, put on a clean, dry pair of socks. You can hang the wet socks on the outside of your pack to dry while you continue your hike.

    Stop the spot

    While blisters are preventable, they’re not always inevitable. So, what happens when your family is hiking along with great socks and shoes and one of your kids says “My foot hurts!” The best thing you can do is to listen, stop immediately, and assess the situation. Stopping immediately and checking their feet can prevent something minor from becoming a big problem down the trail. It might just be a rock in a shoe or a twisted sock. Or it might be a “hot spot” (red, tender area formed by friction), which is the start of a blister. A bandage or just swapping out wet socks can keep a spot from becoming a full-blown blister. Again, a little prevention and extra attention to the problem early on will go a long way!

    Hiking Safety Tips for Parents

    First aid for blisters 

    If blisters happen (and they can…even to the most cautious of parents), here are some First Aid steps to treat the blister and hike out safely. 

    If a small (intact) blister or hot spot forms, place a moleskin dressing (donut-shaped) or blister bandage over the area. The donut-hole should match the size of the blister (the blister should fit inside the hole). You may need to apply more than one layer of moleskin so that the blister doesn’t protrude out the top and continue to rub. You’ll want to secure the moleskin dressing. The easiest way to do that is with tape.

    If a larger blister forms (1″ diameter or larger) and it is inevitable that continuing to hike will pop the blister, you can intentionally rupture it. You can also take the chance and let it rupture on its own. However, letting it rupture on its own has more risk of infection since the blister is unprotected and may be rubbing against dirt, sweat, etc. If you’ve decided that rupturing the blister yourself is the best option, first you should clean the area with an alcohol swab (easiest) or soap and water. Then, take a sterile needle or safety pin (soak with an alcohol swab for 30 seconds) and puncture the base of the blister. Soak up the fluid with sterile gauze. Next, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the blister with a sterile dressing. You can further cushion the area with another moleskin, if necessary.

    It can take a few days or even weeks to heal a blister. Inspect it daily and change the bandage if it becomes wet or dirty. If it becomes infected, seek medical attention right away.

    First Aid Sun Safety Hydration Blisters - how to prevent dehydration while hiking

    Dehydration 

    Dehydration is another common hiking malady that’s extremely dangerous and can even be deadly. However, it’s also completely preventable. When talking about hiking safety, drinking enough fluids should be a top priority. Remember, we are basically just complicated flowers – we need water to survive. Water transports nutrients to our organs, helps maintain our body temperature, as well as cleans waste from our bodies. If you don’t drink enough water, you’re likely to fatigue easier, overheat, or worse. 

    The amount of water you need daily depends on your activity level, environment, and even gender. Men usually need about 4 liters per day, and women 3 liters. Your average water bottle is about one liter. When you’re hiking, you should expect to drink more, especially if it is warm out, if you are at high altitude, or if you’re hiking a long trail or at a fast pace. Preparation is key to preventing dehydration and you should always make sure to have plenty of water with you on a hike.

    How to prevent dehydration while hiking

    An easy way to ensure you don’t get dehydrated on a hike is to pre-hydrate before your hike. The day before your hike, or even just before you head out, drink a couple of extra glasses of water and encourage the kids to do the same. This will get your body prepared for the hike with fluid. 

    During physical activity, you should aim to drink about 6-10 ounces of water every 20 minutes. The amount a child should drink per day depends on their age, height, and weight. Consult your pediatrician to find out what is appropriate. Always carry water with you on hikes and make sure you and your children are taking frequent stops for water breaks. Sometimes kids get excited or distracted on hikes and don’t drink enough. If you need to, set a timer on your watch or phone for intentional water breaks every 20 minutes.

    Another way to stay on top of your fluid status and make sure you have quick and easy access to water is to carry a hydration backpack. The weight is evenly distributed across your back and hips, and your hands are free to balance or lend a hand to your children, and there is a mouthpiece/ straw connected to the water. If your kids are big enough to carry a pack, there are 1L and 1.5L size hydration backpacks that are perfect for little ones. There’s also enough room in these packs from kids to bring along an extra pair of socks and a few snacks. The packs also have a whistle on the chest strap to use in case of an emergency. 

    While you should generally avoid sweet drinks while hiking (water is best), on long hikes we will add some sports drink powder to our hydration packs. This provides some additional electrolytes and sodium. It gives everyone a little more energy and it tastes sweet, prompting your little ones to drink more. 

    Should you run out of water, it is always a good idea to carry a water filter. We use Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter.

    Dehydration first aid

    Should you notice you or your child is dehydrated (thirsty, headache, dark urine, feeling tired, muscle weakness), find a shaded area to sit, drink water or a sports drink to cool down, and have a salty snack. Should someone become dizzy, pass out, have a seizure, or become confused, seek emergency medical attention immediately. These can be signs of heatstroke, which is an emergency situation. 

    Sun Safety while hiking with kids

    Sun safety while hiking

    A sunburn is inflammation of the skin, caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. We’ve probably all had a sunburn at some point in our lives. They are no fun! When I first moved to Nevada from Alaska, I had no idea that altitude makes the sun more intense. For every 1000′ of elevation, UV exposure increases by around 4%. For example, at 6000′ elevation, the UV exposure is about 24% greater than at sea level. Thus, I got my first severe sunburn at Lake Tahoe. It was miserable and painful and then I peeled for weeks. Now, I wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat on every hike.  Our girls do too. Again, sunburns are easily preventable with the right gear and it’s not worth the pain of a sunburn or the risk of Melanoma (skin cancer).

    Sunscreen

    There are so many sunscreen options out there. The two main types are physical sunscreen (such as zinc) and chemical sunscreen (usually found in spray form). Both work; however, physical sunscreens (zinc-based) stay on better in water, resist sweat, and are a more natural option. We use All Good Baby & Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion – Coral Reef Safe – Zinc Oxide. The sun is strongest between 10am and 4pm. If you cannot avoid hiking in exposed areas during those times, sunscreen should be worn. As a general rule, be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours and use an SPF of 30 or higher. 

    Sun-protective clothing

    Sun hats and long sleeve shirts are also great ways to prevent getting a sunburn. There are tons of companies that make clothing (shirts, hats and pants) with built-in UV protection. These items can be helpful for little ones that are hard to lather up. But even with these clothing items, make sure that any exposed skin is protected. 

    Tips for sun protection when hiking with kids

    First aid for sunburn

    Should you get a sunburn, there are some first aid steps you can take to assist in pain reduction and skin healing. First-degree burns are burns where the skin is red and painful. A second-degree sunburn has redness, pain, blisters, and may also have symptoms such as fever, chills and headache. 

    Pain control for first degree burns can be treated with over the counter pain medications. For skincare, aloe vera lotion/gel or a gentle baby lotion can help with itching and cracking.  A second-degree sunburn is more serious. In addition to the treatments for first-degree burns, prescription pain medications or steroids may be necessary. Both types of burns, unfortunately, increase your risk of skin cancer, so avoid sunburns as much as possible. 

    What to pack in your hiking first aid kit

    What you should have in your first aid kit

    There are many first aid kits on the market. You can buy a pre-assembled first aid kit (and add items as needed) or you can easily put together one of your own. Here is a starter checklist of what I feel are the most beneficial items to have in your first aid kit when you are hiking: 

    For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families (which includes a first aid kit).

    Hiking Safety and First Aid

    Additional resources

    Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post about hiking safety and first aid. Remember, most of these injuries and maladies are completely preventable with a little planning and forethought. Being prepared for the unexpected will give you more peace of mind when you’re out on the trail! I hope you get the chance to get out there soon and have some safe and happy hiking! 

    If you would like to learn more about Wilderness First Aid and are interested in taking a class – head to http://www.NOLS.edu and http://www.AWLS.org 

    About the author

    Ashley is an RN certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. She’s a nature-loving mother of two who is passionate about outdoor education for parents and their children. Ashley grew up in Alaska, where her family spent most of their time outdoors fishing, camping, skiing, and hiking. She currently lives with her husband and children near the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe, where they can be found outdoors year-round; hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing, and camping. She is also very passionate about photography and owns a small photography business.

    You can find more from Ashley in the following online locations:
    Instagram: @sage.and.summit
    Website: Sage & Summit Photography

  • FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Ten Road Trip Safety Tips for Traveling with Kids

    We are led to believe road trips with kids are certain to be fraught with danger, frustration, endless whining, and so much stress. That can leave us with so much fear and trepidation that we may never strike out at all! However, road trips don’t have to be scary or intimidating. Car travel is a great way to get from point A to point B and provides amazing opportunities to see the country and spend time together. Today we have the amazing Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here to dispel a few myths about road trips with kids and share all the road trip safety tips she implements while on the road. Nichole is a self-proclaimed road trip renegade and frequently does multi-day/multi-state road trips solo with her two kids. Here’s how she keeps them safe when adventuring and how to practice responsible bravery. top ten safety tips for road trips

    Road trip safety tips

    Safety is our number 1 priority anytime I’m on the road or traveling with my children. The road trip safety tips I’m sharing today are not made up on a whim – they’re tried and tested. However, they cannot guarantee safety. I’ve developed a pattern that I go through on all of our road trips. A pattern that became a habit, hewn out of determination to keep me and my family safe. But also a determination to not let media or fear dictate the adventures my family and I would share.

    In our family, we practice “responsible bravery.” We take chances, we make mistakes, and we get messy. But not without doing our research first and looking at a situation from all angles. From the hotels where we stay to campgrounds we visit, from the coffee shops where we hang out to the off-the-main-avenue adventures we have – I am always researching and scoping out the scenario before we go. I choose to be brave, but responsibly and respectfully so. We go, but I know the situation as best I can and am aware of the risks before we ever hit the road. Below, I will walk you through my top ten road trip safety tips that I use to keep our family safe while choosing to be responsibly brave.road trip safety tips one and two

    Travel tip #1 – put down your phone

    Road trip safety tip number one is to put the phone down! Resist the urge to scroll as you roll. No matter how empty, wide, or flat the highway is. Do not do it. Use talk to text on your phone, utilize the built-in voice assistant on your phone or connect it to your car’s Bluetooth if you’re able. If I need to book a hotel or research a route while we’re on the road, I pull over. I’ll find an interstate on-ramp or find a park to pull into for a few minutes so that I can use my phone safely. Use it as a chance to take a quick stretch break. Road trip selfies are fun but keep those snapshots in your memory only and please resist the urge to take video while you are driving! The only exception to this is when someone else is driving. In that case, I can do all the research I need to and record ridiculous AC/DC and Bon Jovi karaoke videos safely.

    Travel tip #2 – check a map before GPS

    Tip number two is to check your map before your GPS! I am not ashamed to admit that I rely heavily on my phone’s map system (Google maps or the navigation in my car). But, before we roll out in the morning, I always check the map. Looking at a map gives me the big picture idea of where we are traveling and a good break spot for the day. If you know/suspect you may lose phone service due to traveling in rural areas or national forests, it is a good idea to download an offline copy of your map. Or (gasp!), buy an actual paper map of the area where you are headed. I don’t keep a road atlas in the car, but it’s a great idea. Learn how to read a map and teach your children how to read a map. It’s an important skill that I am afraid many people are forgetting how to do.

    road trip safety tips three and four

    Travel tip #3 – pack snacks and activities

    Road trip safety tip number three is to pack all of your children’s snacks and activities at the beginning of your day. Or even the night before. Each child gets a medium sized, insulated snack bag, that is filled with the day’s snacks and a refillable water bottle. They know that once it is gone, that’s it for the day; this is also a really great lesson in self-control. Sometimes if it’s a very long day we will get treats along the way, but those are a bonus.

    I also put a plastic tote that is filled with things to keep the kids busy. Here are a few of our favorites:

    Again, this is easier with older children, but if you begin doing this with age-appropriate toys they learn to entertain themselves and to put the toys back in the tote after they are done.

    road trip safety tips entertainment for kidsroad trip safety tips entertainment for kids flat lay

     

    Travel tip #4 – keep water bottles full

    That brings us to tip number four: always keep your water bottles full! My children are somehow always dying of thirst whenever we are in the car. I make sure to refill water bottles in the morning and keep them full throughout the day. The same is true for me. However, I usually don’t drink enough water and instead drink too much coffee. Make sure you and all of your travelers are drinking water! Otherwise, you may end up having headaches and fatigue in the afternoon when you still have many hours to drive. Drinking plenty of water is key to staying focused on the road.

    road trip safety tips five and six

    Travel tip #5 – bathroom safety

    Tip number five comes from something that my Mom always taught me while we were growing up. If you need to stop at the bathroom, look for gas stations or truck stops that you can see from the interstate and are well lit. That won’t guarantee a clean bathroom but it will make you feel safer and be easier to make the stop a brief one.

    Confession: I am not opposed to side-of-the-road bathroom breaks. When my son was little it was so much easier (and cleaner!) to pull over on a quiet on-ramp and let him go to the bathroom out the side of my old van. It was a little harder for my daughter but I still cringe every time she sits on a dirty gas station toilet seat. Sometimes we still opt for a side of the road bathroom stop in remote areas. It’s cleaner and faster, but again, do so responsibly and respectfully.

    Part two of this road trip safety tip is to take your children into the stall with you. When my husband is traveling with us, we divide and conquer. However, if it’s just me and the kids, they both come into the stall with me. I do not care. I would rather have them in my sight and safe than waiting outside of the bathroom. If I let my son wait outside the stall, I make him stand where I can see his shoes. I’m sure I will have to amend my ways at some point, but for now, the system works for us.

    road trips safety tips bathroom selfie

    Travel tip #6 – no broadcasting and be vague

    When we began traveling, my children loved to broadcast the fact that we were traveling alone. Obviously, this worried me. Over time (and with lots of practice and patience) I have trained them not to mention that we are traveling alone. They also know that if I say something like “Let’s get back to the car, Dad’s waiting,” that is their clue that I am feeling uncomfortable and it is time to go. The same rule applies to hotels/motels/places where we are checking in. I always say there are four of us staying in the room and ask for two room keys. It makes no price difference for our occupancy rate and it gives me peace of mind.

    I am by no means saying that a spouse or significant other is necessary to feel safe. However, I am saying that there are times where me sharing that I am not traveling alone is a prudent idea. I am quite confident in my skills as a solo traveler with my children and have never been in a situation where I felt otherwise. Be confident, bold, and forward when you need to be. And for me, training my children to not publicly claim that we are traveling alone is my way of being responsibly brave.

    One more item of note here. When asked directly where we are from, where we are headed, or where we have been, I am always purposely vague. This is also a good opportunity to train your children to not blurt out the city and state they are from when asked by a stranger. There have many, many, times my children or I have been asked these questions by well-meaning retirees. While I know their purpose is mainly out of curiosity and a desire to strike up a conversation, my knee jerk reaction is to be vague.

    Travel tip #7 – use the backpack system

    Tip number seven is one of my favorites! When I first began traveling with my children, I would stress out each night when we arrived at a hotel. There was so much to unload and I still had to check us in. That’s when I developed our backpack system. My children each have their own backpacks with nightly toiletries, swimsuits, pj’s, change of clothes, their electronics and charger, and a favorite stuffed animal. I have a backpack with my valuables, toiletries, swimsuit, pajamas, and the next days’ clothes; as well as my purse and camera bag.

    Having a few small bags allows us to make one trip into the hotel/motel/Airbnb with everything we need for the night. It makes me feel less vulnerable and we only have to park the car once. When my husband is with us we actually use the same system, but sometimes bring a bit more in since he is with us to help carry things. This has become easier as my children have grown. But, from the time my daughter was two she has been able to carry her backpack with her things into the hotel room.

    Travel tip #8 – hide your valuables

    Tip number eight is an important counterpart to the last tip. If you are not taking the valuables in with you, hide your valuables! However, if it’s something very valuable or extremely sentimental,  I highly recommend taking it inside with you.  Hide anything of value you leave behind in the car. A visible valuable might as well be a target on your car. This is true for any of our stops, whether overnight or just for lunch.

    We always hide everything, every stop. Usually, this means moving things to the back of the car or inside other suitcases or bags. We always hide cords as well, because those can catch a wandering eye and perhaps make your car a target. One bonus of traveling with children: a messy car is usually a deterrent. And my car is always a mess when we travel. But the mess that I leave visible is usually sticker books, spilled snacks, stuffed animals, and mysteriously single socks.

    road trip safety tips nine and ten

    Travel tip #9 – walk around your car

    The next two road trip safety tips are two that you may not hear as often but are part of my normal routine. While there is some truth to insidious papers being placed on windshields, nails behind tires, and card skimmers, it is not as common as the media would lead you to believe. Tip number nine is to walk around your car before you leave, every time. If we have been parked for over an hour and the car was out of our sight, I always walk around the car quickly before we leave. I unlock it so my children can get in, but I do a quick sweep around the car.

    Here is what I look for: any door dings or damage to note, tire condition and what is around the tires if anything, flyers or pamphlets placed on the windshield, that the backup camera is free of debris and anything suspicious. While I do not believe all the scary news stories about abduction techniques are true, I do believe that diligently checking your vehicle is a wise way to spend a few minutes before you leave. This behavior pattern has become a habit and second nature for me now whenever we are loading up to leave.

    Travel tip #10 – ATM safety

    Along with tip number nine, road trip safety tip number ten relates to being aware of your surroundings. I’ve never had any issues with card skimmers. However, we have had to replace our credit card before after traveling due to fraudulent charges. This is a small note but worth doing: look directly at a card reader before you pump your gas or get money out of the ATM. Card skimmers are fairly easy to spot, so long as you are paying attention.

    On a similar note, be aware of anyone close by when withdrawing money or trying to get a look at your pin number. Those that would do you harm or attempt to steal from you are counting on you not paying attention. So, make the choice to be responsibly brave and be aware of your surroundings. These habits are easy to adopt, it simply takes small changes in your traveling routine. But these small changes can help steer you from a place of fear to a place of responsible self-reliance. There are usually plenty of ATMs around, so if one doesn’t feel safe, move on to another.

    road trip safety tips gas pump sunrise

    Road trip renegades

    Road trips are our favorite way to travel and explore and have become an important part of our family culture. Here is a post about how we got started and a little bit about our why we road trip.

    Here is a list of ideas for low tech road trip entertainment for kids of all ages.

    And here is a fun story about choosing yes to spontaneous adventure. By having a system for safety in place I have gained confidence which has given us more freedom to chase adventure when it calls to us.

    I hope that these road trip safety tips have inspired you to begin forming your own safety systems for travel.

    What do you do to stay safe on the road?
    Share your road trip safety tips with us below!

     

    Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. They are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online at http://www.luckeywanderers.com.