Hiking Dangers
Hiking dangers are numerous. These include snakes, poisonous plants, and venomous snakes. The most common hiking dangers are not fatal in most situations, but they are still worth considering. Learn how to prevent these dangers before embarking on your hike. Listed below are a few examples. If you are going hiking alone, keep a close eye on your belongings. Here are some tips to avoid hiking with snakes.
Avoiding snakes
If you are hiking in an area that is prone to snakes, you may want to take the precaution of not approaching them. Most snakes do not want to get into contact with humans, but they will often scurry away when they sense your footsteps. However, if you do come across a snake, back off slowly and let it slither away on its own. Although most snakes do not harm humans, they can easily get agitated or disturbed.
Hiking is an excellent form of physical activity. Whether you choose to take on a challenging journey into uncharted territory or simply take a brisk stroll through well-traveled trails, there is always the risk of running into snakes while hiking. During a snake encounter, the first thing you should do is to halt and check your surroundings. Once you see something unusual, back away slowly and stomp your feet to warn off the snake. In an extreme case, you may want to consider making a detour around the snake.
Avoiding poisonous plants
If you love the outdoors, you should always make sure that you're aware of the possible dangers of poisonous plants. Poisonous plants can be dangerous to humans if you ingest them directly, resulting in serious side effects. Some plants are even toxic to pets and humans. To avoid being a victim, here are some tips to avoid poisonous plants when hiking. Also, remember that some plants are not always readily visible.
Before going hiking, it's important to learn the characteristics of poisonous plants. Contact with these plants can lead to a rash, severe complications to the central nervous system, and sometimes even death. Wearing protective clothing can help reduce the chance of contact with these plants. Learn the symptoms and treatments for poisonous plants and know which plants can be hazardous before you head out. Also, if you're hiking in brushy areas, it's best to wear long pants and sleeves. This way, you won't risk getting scratched or bitten.
Avoiding venomous snakes
Venomous snakes can bite a hiker, so there are several tips to avoid these creatures. Taking the time to avoid snake bites will minimize the effects of the toxin. In order to prevent snake venom from spreading, hikers should slow down and avoid carrying packs. Snake venom is highly concentrated and destroys cells quickly. In order to reduce the damage to the tissues, hiking slowly and without packs will help prevent venom spreading and killing the victim. Besides, cold packs will decrease the healthy circulation to the affected area and may lead to frostbite.
Generally, snakes bite people between March and October, when most outdoor enthusiasts hit the trails. There are four types of venomous snakes in the U.S., including the copperhead. Copperheads are hourglass-shaped snakes with gold-tan bands. Copperheads live in swamps and along rivers. Copperheads are the most dangerous snakes and can strike from a distance of half their length.
