Hiking Safety Checklist

Make this hiking safety checklist a part of your emergency preparedness plan for ALL of your picnics and hikes.

Under adverse circumstances, these items will not only help you mend bodies, they will also help you repair your gear and get you through an emergency overnight circumstance.

• First-Aid Kit
  No hiking safety checklist would be complete without a First-aid kit. They are an absolute must for all picnics and hikes.

• Food
  Bring enough high-energy food to meet your needs on the hike plus food items that will not be eaten unless there is an emergency.

• Water and/or Water Purification System
  You must provide enough water to keep each person hydrated under anticipated weather and hiking conditions.

  Unfortunately, extra water is heavy to carry in your pack. Water purification kits, which are effective against pathogens in stream/lake water, are highly recommended for emergency use.

• Orange Plastic Garbage Bag
  The Hug A Tree and Survive program recommends providing each person with an orange plastic garbage bag (it must be orange/yellow - not green!). Wearing a large orange plastic garbage bag makes you very visible if you become lost. The bag is also useful as emergency rainwear and can even be made into an emergency shelter.

• Signal Device
  Make signal devices a part of your hiking safety checklist. A whistle, a glow stick on a rope, a hand-sized mirror, or plastic neon-coloured tape can all be used to signal for help if you need it.

• Map and Compass
  A topographic map, specific to the trail you are hiking, is ideal.

• Pocket Knife/Multi-Tool
  Multi-tools or Swiss Army knives are highly recommended because of their diversity in use. They help with everything from removing splinters to repairing equipment.

• Rope/Cord
  Bring a minimum of 25 feet of woven synthetic-fibre cord or rope. It can be used to bundle, haul, support and tie.

• Matches/Lighter
  Waterproof matches or a lighter are needed to get a fire going for both heat and visibility. Firestarter cubes are also a good idea for wet tinder that is difficult to light.

• Flashlight/Headlamp
  Remember to bring spare batteries too. There are also hand-powered LED flashlights available which are quite good.

• Spare Clothing
  Synthetic hiking clothing keep you warmer when wet, and dry quickly. This includes: socks, sweater/fleece jacket, wind/water proof jacket, hat and gloves.

• Sun Protection
  Sunglasses, sun hat (with a visor) and sunscreen. This is especially important at higher altitutes, and near bodies of water and snow.

• Space Blanket
  Space blankets provide a lightweight, compact way of providing warmth and can also provide emergency shelter.

• Plastic Bags
  Bring bags that "zip" close in a few different sizes. Keeps items dry (pack your camera into one), and keeps wet items away from dry ones.

• Other Hiking Safety Items
  Small vise grips, 2 sewing needles with thread (both heavy duty), safety pins, tweezers, razor blade, "ripstop" repair tape. All of these items come in handy when trying to repair broken hiking gear.

Patience and creativity also help greatly when it comes to fixing problems on the trail. Make it challenging and fun to fix that broken backpack or mend that hiking shoe.

Keeping calm and rational (with the aid of the safety checklist items listed above) is your best defence against any outdoor emergency that may occur.

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