Most Common Accidents and Injuries During Outdoor Travel

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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. 

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