The art of staying safe, through the treatment but above all the *prevention* of injury and disease.
29
votes
8answers
520 views
How should I remove a tick?
If I find a tick on myself or a friend, what is the best way of removing it?
I've heard some people say that singeing the tick with a match makes the tick detach and fall off. However I've also ...
25
votes
5answers
357 views
Backpacking or hiking in areas open to hunting
A lot of areas that are good for hiking or backpacking are also popular hunting grounds. I am an avid backpacker and hiker, but I do not know much about hunting. How do I find out what is the ...
24
votes
3answers
8k views
Is drinking urine safe?
We've all heard stories about how people saved their lives by drinking their urine. Is drinking urine safe when there are no other water sources available? Can I filter it with a water purifier?
22
votes
3answers
1k views
Is it possible to rappel with only a rope? (No harness, Prusik cord, or other gear)
There may be an emergency situation where I find myself needing to lower myself but with no or damaged equipment.
Assuming I only have a rope, can I lower myself to safe ground?
21
votes
3answers
357 views
If I have to cross an icy, flowing river, what are some ways I can cross safely?
If I'm alone in a survival situation and I have to cross a very cold river that's still flowing, how should I accomplish this safely?
21
votes
6answers
646 views
What is the safest way to purify water?
There are a number of ways to purify water, off the top of my head we have filters, iodine, and boiling. Clearly each has some advantage/disadvantage (iodine tastes terrible, boiling takes time). ...
19
votes
1answer
208 views
Putting in contact lenses when outdoors
I am wearing contact lenses on a daily basis. Many times, when outdoors, I cannot put in my contact lenses (because of limited time or just no sterile conditions).
Is there any cleaner I could safely ...
18
votes
4answers
250 views
What precautions should I take to protect myself and my camp from bears?
Most of my prior hiking experience has been in areas that are not home to bears, so what precautions should I take to protect my camp (and myself as I am hiking) from bears.
I am aware of a couple of ...
18
votes
3answers
631 views
Wild camping in subsaharan Africa - madness, blasphemy, or bearable?
What potential dangers / precautions one should take into account when sleeping outside in sub-Saharan Africa? (Let alone countries with unstable political situations.) Just with a sleeping bag, maybe ...
18
votes
1answer
281 views
Why do shin splints happen?
I've gotten shin splints on long hikes - once 2 weeks into a hike, and another time 2 months. I wasn't able to determine how I got them though, which has really annoyed me! I get that I could ...
18
votes
1answer
189 views
Do I need to worry about feral dogs or even wolves if I camp in random areas while hitchhiking in Georgia (the country)?
After almost half a year working in a hostel in Tbilisi, spring has come and it is far warmer than anywhere further west in Europe so I'm going to hitchhike around Georgia with my tent in warm areas.
...
17
votes
5answers
439 views
What is the best way to cross streams while backpacking?
I'm curious of a good technique to cross a stream while backpacking that's above the boot's waterproof line but no higher than the knees. I typically face upstream and use my hiking poles for ...
17
votes
5answers
448 views
How bad do circumstances need to be before activating a PLB?
Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) can be carried during outdoor activities to use in case of an emergency. But are there any guidelines on what exactly constitutes an "emergency"? For example, what ...
14
votes
4answers
291 views
How can you prevent kids getting lost at night while camping?
When camping in more remote areas with young kids, how can you make sure they don't take a stroll and get lost in the middle of the night?
We won't be near lights, established "bathrooms", etc. The ...
14
votes
4answers
391 views
Where in the Alps is it safe to drink the water without filtering?
In some places, the Swedish Lappland for example, it's perfectly fine and even recommended to drink water directly from streams.
Is it also recommended whilst hiking in the Alps, and if so is it only ...
14
votes
3answers
157 views
How should I check climbing equipment to tell whether it is still safe to use?
I have, unfortunately, not had the opportunity to go climbing (and thus use my climbing equipment) for a couple years. I know that such equipment, especially the rope and webbing, can degrade over ...
13
votes
4answers
198 views
When sailing, how do I rescue a man overboard?
If someone falls overboard from a sailboat, it is firstly imperative not to lose sight of the person since finding a man in water, especially when there's waves, can be very difficult.
What ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I use a bicycle helmet as a climbing helmet?
I have a bicycle helmet that fits well. Can it be used effectively as a rock climbing helmet?
Most climbing helmets have a hard shell that the bicycle helmet does not. However, one of the more ...
13
votes
2answers
186 views
How to inspect climbing bolts?
I am most interested in setting up a top rope anchor on 2 bolts side by side. I feel like in this case you almost have to be more careful using bolts for a top rope than sport climbing because in ...
13
votes
2answers
215 views
Can I sail a raft on a European river with commercial traffic?
I'm thinking about sailing a part of the Danube, alone, on a self-built raft. I have no experience sailing rivers on any serious basis.
I'm considering a raft for a number of reasons:
It's cheap.
...
12
votes
5answers
191 views
How to warm up your cold toes and fingers?
In winter your hand and feet (especially toes and fingers) may get painfully cold or you may even stop feeling them. How can you warm them up?
This usually happens, when it's below 0°С or when it's ...
12
votes
3answers
177 views
What steps should I take if someone starts sinking?
What are the steps that should be taken if someone you're hiking with starts to sink uncontrollably into say a marsh? What are some good techniques and points that should be used to get them out ...
12
votes
4answers
253 views
Cheese and eggs on backpacking trips
I have taken some hard cheeses onto backpacking trips quite successfully without spoilage, but I have not dared taking more than I can eat in about 3 days. Eggs I have not dared to take. I am ...
11
votes
3answers
168 views
What do you do if the fire does get “out of control”?
Let's say you are camping with a large group, and someone starts a camp fire. You're away for a bit and come back to find everyone panicking and the fire to be much larger than actually planned (ie, ...
11
votes
3answers
125 views
What are the critical dimensions to a safe bear-bag?
Many outdoor areas that have bears have bear bag-lines setup for hikers.
In situations where the bear-bag line is not there or it is full, what dimensions should I keep in mind to protect my goodies ...
11
votes
2answers
270 views
Should a hiker be concerned about wolves in the back-country?
In this question, it was asked whether bear-spray was effective against other animals, such as wolves.
I know the old adage that "there has never been record of a healthy wolf attacking an adult" is ...
11
votes
1answer
84 views
How can I go camping in Nepal and Northern Pakistan?
A group of friends would like to go camping in Northern Pakistan on their own. The only problem is to know some locals who can help us with food and a place to find where we can put up our camps. How ...
10
votes
2answers
199 views
Surviving a forest fire
Awhile back I heard on CBC radio about a man who got trapped in a forest fire (surrounded on all sides) and survived. The way he survived was so ridiculous he was brought to court and almost fined/put ...
10
votes
3answers
259 views
How effective are portable electric fences?
I am worried about bears and wolves when camping so I'm looking at portable electric fences.
Are they effective and more importantly just how dangerous are they?
10
votes
1answer
258 views
Is it safe to use denatured alcohol as an antiseptic?
A lot of hikers carry denatured alcohol for cooking. Is there any risk to using it as an antiseptic for cuts and lacerations?
10
votes
1answer
191 views
Is my tent pole a lightning rod?
I have used the Mega Mid tent almost exclusively for hundreds of nights out over the last many years. It's versatile, well ventilated, light... but has this pole sticking straight up the middle.
Is ...
10
votes
2answers
259 views
How do I inspect a climbing rope?
It is imperative that climbing ropes are in excellent shape so they don't split while someone is climbing.
How do I properly inspect the rope when I'm about to start a climb?
10
votes
4answers
274 views
I found a Deer Tick on my friend and removed it, what should I do now?
While camping with some friends in Anywhere National Forest, I found a deer tick on a friend. After removing it with tweezers, is there anything else I should do? Should we abandon our trip ...
10
votes
2answers
585 views
Is bear spray effective against other animals?
Is bear spray (pepper spray specially formulated to be effective against bear attacks) effective against other animals, especially mountain lions or wolves? Or is there something in it specifically ...
10
votes
2answers
131 views
Trekking in the himalayan region
Which are the better trekking routes in the himalayan region?
Also, how safe are the routes?
If any of you guys have been around in the region, I would like to know your personal experiences as ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
Prevent mosquito bites: insect repellent patch or just eat vitamin B1?
I'd like to use natural malaria prevention. Insect repellent patch seems to be very promising. One patch contains 75 mg of B1 and covers 36 hours. However, it's not very cheap. Many other travellers ...
9
votes
5answers
214 views
Are fires in natural caves/overhangs safe?
I have heard that a fire in a cave or under an overhang can cause a rock collapse, potentially injuring the occupant. Is this a real risk?
9
votes
1answer
310 views
Mountaineering / glacial traverse: rope-up or go it alone?
When crossing a glacier (or other mountaineering activity for that matter) I've heard that roping everyone together without having a fixed anchor is falling out of fashion since more often than not if ...
9
votes
3answers
120 views
Should I always take a hard hat if I go scrambling?
Should I always take a hard hat if I go scrambling?
Scrambling (also known as alpine scrambling) is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges
Quite often when I'm out on ridges in the UK, I ...
9
votes
2answers
196 views
What precautions should I take when hiking among herds of elk?
During certain times of the year, some of the hiking trails near where I live wind through herds of elk standing on or near the trails. What precautions should you take when hiking among elk?
8
votes
6answers
2k views
How long does mayonnaise last unrefrigerated in the back-country?
Yes, mayonnaise. It is sold unrefrigerated, and is an essential component of any back-country sandwich. Has anyone reached its limit and had it spoil on them?
(I haven't. Of course, I've never had an ...
8
votes
3answers
144 views
Does whiskey help keep you warm in winter?
It is a rare day that I head out into the winter wilds without a flask of sumpt'n-sumpt'n in my pocket. A nip helps one to relax, can mildly embolden timid skiers in my group, and gives one that fiery ...
8
votes
3answers
157 views
What is the true risk of suffocation from different combustion sources in a tent? (CO2, CO)
Aside from risk of fire (which for this question we will assume has been fully mitigated) what is the real risk of suffocation if one were to use a stove, lantern, or candle lantern in a tent?
There ...
8
votes
1answer
81 views
What kinds of things are the “defensive driving” equivalent to handling campfires?
In What do you do if the fire does get "out of control"?, someone asked a legitimate question, and @berry120 wrote detailed response, and ended with a "tl;dr" saying, " but if the proper ...
8
votes
1answer
161 views
What causes an avalanche and can I predict one?
Avalanches are extremely dangerous when mountaineering, winter backpacking/camping, or backcountry skiing/snowboarding.
What causes them and is there any way I can predict when an avalanche is about ...
8
votes
1answer
130 views
How can I tell when pemmican has spoiled?
Following this video I have made pemmican. When making the pemmican I used a food processor instead of rocks (because I'm lazy). I handled it with care, and according to this handbook, this stuff ...
7
votes
3answers
127 views
Is there a large difference in WFA (Wilderness First Aid) programs?
I am looking at taking a WFA (Wilderness First Aid) class and there are a couple of outfits in my area offering it. Namely, SOLO, NOLS, and The American Red Cross. I have heard nothing but great ...
7
votes
2answers
153 views
How big a fall is a “major” fall?
I answered a question about rope safety with some advice about retiring the rope after a "major" fall. Another user asked me what would constitute a major fall - and I have to admit that I can only ...
7
votes
2answers
151 views
What is the best way to break up a fight among dogs on a sled line?
Fights happen. Sled dogs have personalities that aren't always compatible... Is there a technique to breaking up a fight that will minimize risk of injury to both me and my dogs?
7
votes
3answers
153 views
How do I Eskimo roll a kayak?
If I am whitewater or sea kayaking, it is possible that my kayak will get overturned leading to a live or death situation.
I've heard that it is possible to roll the kayak so it is right side up ...
