Category: Blog

  • Most Common Accidents and Injuries During Outdoor Travel

    Outdoor travel is different from another trip involving indoor spaces. There are more hazards highly possible to encounter. However, outdoor travel is something fun and healthy. Lots of travelers get addicted to have outdoor travels to various destinations. There is different type of satisfaction after experiencing the wilderness of the nature. There are many possibilities something can go wrong but they can be dealt by having general safety measures. Avoiding hazards during outdoor travel is possible. However, the possibility of getting involved in accidents and suffered from injuries is still there. Nature is unpredictable more often than not. 

    Accidents and injuries during outdoor travel

    The risk of getting involved in accidents and getting injured is more possible when you choose to take an outdoor trip. Here are the most common accidents and injuries during outdoor trips you should be aware of so you can take proper precautions:

    outdoor travel

    Altitude sickness

    Altitude sickness usually happens due to the rapid climbing to elevation beyond 8,000 feet. It may take several days to recover. However, you can ease the symptoms by taking the right drugs. Mountain sickness is common and sometimes is not as dangerous. However, it can develop to more serious problems such as high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema. Those are life-threatening and transportation to lower altitude needs to be done immediately. 

    Hypothermia

    Hypothermia happens when your core body temperature experience a fatal drop. It often happen when you take an outdoor trip during cold season such as winter or rainy season. Hypothermia may not kill you in an instant. However, it develops into bad condition such as irrationality, confusion,etc. Prevent hypothermia by wearing sufficient clothes especially during extreme weather and condition. 

    Sodium deificiency

    Sodium deficiency is common when during outdoor trip due to sweating. It potentially reduce the level of salt in your body. Prevent this problem by drinking plenty of water throughout your outdoor activities. Also grab salty snacks during your breaks to stay energized and fit.

    Dehydration

    Dehydration is very common as well. It can lead to more serious problems such as dizziness, loss of balance, lack of concentration, lose focus, etc. It is dangerous to let your body dehydrated for so long. Thus, always refill your body by drinking enough water. If the condition is extreme, drink more than 2 liters of water a day. It can also prevent from more dangerous condition such as heat exhaustion that can develop into heatstroke. 

    Topical injuries

    There are also topical injuries possibly happen during outdoor travel. During hot weather, the most common topical injuries including sunburn and burns. However, sunburn is also possible in cold condition. Frostbites are possible when your skin is exposed to extremely low temperature. Snow blindness is also common due to the exposure to the intense ultraviolet by sunlit snow. Another possible injury is laceration which is mostly caused by careless use of sharp equipment such as knives and axes, or direct contact with barbed wires, sharp rocks, etc. This can cause infection such as tetanus. To prevent from those possible injuries, wear adequate clothing and protecting gears. 

    Also read:

     

  • How To Keep Yourself Warm During Outdoor Trip

    Lots of people choose summer to do outdoor activities during their vacation. However, it is not an absolute rule. You can also do outdoor activities when the weather starts to get cold. Camping for example is a great activity you can do anytime regardless of the weather. There are many activities you can do to have fun such as building a campfire, roasting marshmallow, making hot chocolate, and many more. Winter camping is not bad idea. What you have to do is to keep yourself warm and it is not that difficult to do. 

    What to do to stay warm during outdoor trip

    Doing adventurous activities during cold weather is not bad thing, although there is high risk to get cold if you are not careful enough. Therefore, you should know the tricks to stay warm while enjoying your outdoor trip. Here are several tips you can use to have a warm outdoor trip:

    Layering is key

    Layer your clothing properly. Always remember to wear base layers to keep your body’s temperature at warm level. However, make sure to choose breathable fabrics because if you wear too many layers or too warm clothes then you it may get too hot for you. Therefore, versatile clothing is necessary. It is the type of cloth that will adapt to the changing temperature. Wool is a great fabric you can choose for your clothing because it tends to be warm as well as breathable. 

    layering clothes winter

    Hydrate!

    Drink hot beverages regularly during the trip to keep your body warm. However, it is highly advised to avoid drinks with caffeine. During cold weather, sometimes you forget to drink because you think you are not thirsty. That’s why you still need to refill your fluids by drinking regularly. For outdoor trip during cold weather, hot beverages are highly recommended. However, avoid caffeine drinks such as tea or coffee because they are diuretic which in result will dehydrate you. You can choose herbal teas to keep your body temperature warm. Or, you can make your own hot drink with made from natural ingredients such as lemon, apple cider, honey, cinnamon, etc.

    Also read:

    Eat good food

    Eat high fat with high protein foods because they are the type of foods that can help you stay warm. Carbohydrates are also great sources but they easily burn especially when you do physical exercises during the trip. Thus, fat and protein are better option because they stay longer and your body burn them slower. This way, your body will sustain warmth longer for you to survive the cold weather.

    Sleeping gear

    It is also important to stay warm when you sleep at night during your outdoor trip in cold weather. Therefore, it is important to choose the right sleeping gear. If you are camping during outdoor travel then might as well bring air mattress with foam pad underneath. It provide warm through proper insulation from the cold ground. Sleeping bag is also the key for you to survive the cold night. The one with temperature rated for colder weather is highly recommended for sleeping during outdoor trip.