Children Fishing Safety Tips

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Fishing with your children is a very relaxing and fun experience, but it could become a horrifying one if you’re not properly prepared for the worst. Being safe should be one of your prime concerns while out on a fishing boat, especially if you’re taking the trip with small children. This article will outline a few tips and precautions that you should take before going on your boating trip.

Basic Rules

It’s important that before you go out onto the water that you let any children know the basic rules that they need to abide by on a boat. These rules include no running, looking around you before you cast, and making sure that you keep your floatation device on. You should especially explain why each of these is important, as kids might not instantly realize that they could hurt someone else if they hit them with their cast. If they refuse to abide by the rules, find some way to lightly punish them that will make them realize the importance of the rules.

Buddy System

During a fishing trip it’s important that you stress the dangers of the water to everyone. It’s not a bad idea to establish a buddy system in which two people are with each other at all times. If you don’t feel comfortable with two children being the buddies in the buddy system simple pair one child with one adult. This will ensure that each child is properly watched by a respective adult.

Supplies

It’s important that you bring any sort of supplies that you feel you may need while on a boat. It will be hard to get back to shore and to the car if there was a medical emergency so make sure that you bring a first aid kit and any medication that you may need. It’s also a good idea to bring more personal items such as sunscreen or insect repellent. The last thing you want to remember about your fishing trip is how you were sunburned and got bitten by mosquitoes the entire time. If the weather is hot it’s important that you bring a sufficient supply of water or other cold drinks so that your family and friends don’t get dehydrated.

Take some time and read over the supplies listed in this article and consider any additional supplies you may need. Bringing children on a fishing trip can be a hassle, but if you develop a few basic rules and remember to bring any supplies you need then you will be sure to have a safe and fun fishing trip.

Photo Credits: XcBiker

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Hiking: Should You Bring a Light Backpack or a Heavy Backpack?

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

When someone is going for a hike, they inevitably run into a decision to make: should they pack heavy and be sure they have plenty of supplies, or should they strip down to the minimum and carry a lighter load? It doesn’t take much thought to imagine that the heavier your bag is, the more supplies you’ll want to keep (such as food and water to remain hydrated and fueled). Is either strategy better than the other one? Let’s take a closer look.

Bringing a heavier bag will sometimes be necessary. If you’re going on a long hike, there are certain supplies you’ll need that you wouldn’t carry on a short hike. If you’re going on a weekend backpacking trip through the hills, you’ll want to carry supplies for camping at night, as well. If you’re just going for a quick jaunt up the hiking trail, you’ll only need a first aid kit, and some food and water.

General wisdom amongst minimalists who like light backpacks suggests that the lighter your load is, the less you’ll need to carry. To consider the alternative of wearing a heavy backpack, we’ll have to consider the benefits that adding extra supplies might carry with it.

Ultimately, the things you bring in your backpack should either be necessary for your survival - first-aid, food, water, etc. - or should make your life easier in some way. This brings us to the idea of technology.

Some gadgets, such as GPS navigation devices, can really make your life easier. However, they aren’t always totally necessary. The decision ultimately comes down to enjoying the convenience of a heavier load against depending on yourself with a smaller amount of supplies.

It’s recommended that you bring everything you need to keep safe, and work to keep it as simple and light as possible. For example, a GPS watch is easy to carry. Make a list of all of the things you’ll want to bring hiking, and then narrow it down to the bare necessities, or the excellent conveniences that don’t add too much weight to your load.

Ultimately, experience and skill will help determine how little you’ll be able to carry. Even if you want a very light load to carry, try going on a brief hike to see what kind of supplies are and aren’t necessary. Good hiking starts with you.

Photo Credits: rebonnett

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A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Taking a stroll in the woods can be a healthy and refreshing activity, but without proper preparations, it can easily turn into a tragedy. Every year, there are hundreds of fatal hiking accidents and many more involving serious injuries. Here are some easy yet important tips to take note of before you go for your next hiking trip.

There is a list of items that you must bring along with you on any hiking trip. You should have a map of the trail which you wish to take, a good compass, at least two litters of water, a change of clothes, first aid kit, compass, some snacks, food rations, and a satellite GPS unit. Make sure that your cell phone is fully charged before you leave. These items are extremely crucial, especially if you are going on a hike in forested areas.

You must also be properly attired before you leave for the trip. Wear plenty of warm clothing and a pair of sturdy shoes with good grip. Wearing a good pair of hiking shoes or boots will help prevent injuries caused by slips and falls.

Research the route of the hiking trail. Always find out where the trail leads to and how long the journey will take. If the track takes anything more than 5 hours, you should inform the park authorities. In case you get loss, the authorities would at least have a gauge of where to find you.

Generally it is never a good idea to go hiking alone. In the natural environment, there are always many treats of injury, whether it is by accident or animal attacks. Going hiking in groups will ensure that the victim will be protected and cared for in the event of any such misadventures

On any hiking trips, besides having a good time and enjoying your solitude with Mother Nature, you must always be mindful to prevent getting lost. When you get lost, you expose yourself to the dangers of being attack by wild animals, hypothermia, starvation, and sometimes even death. It is best to stick to well worn hiking trails. If you plan to go off the trail, make sure to mark your GPS system and your map.

Even if you are following a worn hiking trail, there still a chance that you may get lost due multiple split turns on the trail. Here, having a pencil and paper with you would be invaluable. Every time you reach a crossroad, mark the direction that you take on the piece of paper. This way, you will be able to find your way back after the hike.

If you ever get loss, this is when your compass comes into play. Remember, a compass is only useful if you know how to use it. Learn how to use your compass, and which directions that you would need to follow if you get lost before you start your hiking trip.

Photo Credit: Tricky

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How to Stay Safe During Your Camping Trip

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Camping can be a dangerous undertaking because it requires you to spend an extended time in the great outdoors. If you’re planning to take your children camping with you, then you need to spend extra time examining certain precautions that you need to take. What should you worry about when you’re about ready to go, though? This article will give you a few common concerns and what you should do to prepare for them.

Watch the Weather

Being outdoors, it’s very important that you pay very close attention to the forecast when you’re going camping. If you’re going in the winter months it can be extremely dangerous if you camp in the midst of a snowstorm because you could easily run out of food and have no way of getting back to civilization. Be sure to watch the weather reports and if you’re already at your campsite you can always ask any rangers or other campers you see what the forecast looks like.

Bring the Right Supplies

Brining supplies with you can help you feel much safer during your trip as it offers you a backup and can be used anytime an unexpected problem occurs. Common supplies include: bug spray, extra food, and medications. It’s extremely important that you bring any medication that a family or friend needs in case they have any issue during the trip. You should also bring a first aid kit as it’s very easy to be injured by falling or possibly by an animal in an extended visit.

Plan Ahead

Perhaps the best thing you can do before going on your camping trip is planning ahead. Plan things like where you’re going to camp and for how long you’re going to stay. This planning should include both of the previous items, watching the weather and considering the essential supplies. It’s important that you think of any possible problem that can occur while you’re camping and be ready to address it accordingly.

Use Common Sense

Not using common sense is probably the cause of most problems that occur in the woods. Don’t attempt to do anything that could be potentially fatal, and make sure you follow basic camping guidelines such as leaving food out near or inside of the tents. With a little common sense it should be easy for you to avoid any problems that you could experience.

If you follow the above advice it should be easy for you to plan a fun and safe camping trip for you and your family.

Photo Credits: Omer Simkha

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Outdoor Activities for the Camping Trip

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

You’ve already got the family set up on your camping site – a fire going to prepare lunch, two tents raised, more firewood for later, and a cooler full of cold drinks waiting to be consumed. So far, so good, right? There’s just one problem.

What do you do now?

Sometimes, the fun of a great camping trip can be dampened when you’re looking for activities to fill the hours. Instead of going into the woods to find adventure, you’ve discovered that all you’ve found is a campsite. So how do you have some fun while you’re out there, without taking away from the rustic experience of being away from civilization? Here are some suggestions for some fun, natural activities to enjoy outdoors.

-Fishing.

Fishing is one of the most popular activities for camping, particularly as you can do it anywhere you have a good source of water. Fishing can kill the time when you’re waiting for a meal to heat, or it can be turned into a long afternoon trip if you decide to rent a boat or a canoe. Of course, this all depends on whether or not you’ve got access to water.

-Hiking.

Hiking can usually be done anywhere you have a camp site – all you need are some basic supplies (including a first-aid kit, and perhaps some navigational tools) and you can go explore. Many people find this a serene way to pass the time, while kids might find it to be a good way to seek adventure and look for wildlife.

-Photography.

Hiking can be blended with photography if you bring a camera along. For any visually-oriented members of your family, this is a great way to pass the time while directly enjoying the sights of nature. You could also buy disposable cameras and send your children on a mission to find the best pictures possible while they wait for dinner.

-Paddling/kayaking/rafting.

If you’ve chosen a campsite with access to a water site, you’re in luck – lakes and slow rivers can be great for kayaking while whitewater rafting sites are great places to go and camp. These can often turn into day-long activities, so make sure you stock up on sunscreen and have plenty of water available to drink.

These are just a few of the options available to you when you go camping. The key is to prepare for the “downtime” that inevitably comes when you can’t instantly turn on a television set. A few simple purchases or some wise campsite choosing will help you fill the time easily – and wish you had more to spend!

Photo Credits: Rick McCharles

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Holiday Camping Tips

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Camping trips in mountains, forests and beaches is a great group activity for all ages. The experience of sleeping, cooking and eating out in the open is a great way to explore the outdoors. Camping require more equipments and preparations compared to many other outdoor activities.

Some examples of the equipments needed are tents, fire starters, cooking utensils, first aid kit, maps and compass. It is important that you are familiar with the use of these equipments before the camping trip. Learning how to set up your tent before hand will save you a lot of time and trouble during the trip.

Make sure there are enough tents for all campers. A 4-man tents means that it can fit 4 persons at maximum capacity. If you assign four persons to a tent of this size, each of them will have to sleep lined up next to each other like sardines in a tent. For a comfortable fit, two persons should be assigned to every 4-man tent.

Although it is very popular to cook food over open fires, portable stoves provide a convenient alternative. It may be a little bulky, but having a portable gas stove guarantee hot meals during camping. If you opt to build your own fire, make sure you have plenty of fire-starters, matches and have a little knowledge on how to build a fire from twigs. Check with the local authorities if it is permissible to build a campfire and if there is a designated areas to build them. Building a fire may take some effort and time, but it is a fun activity that adds to the rugged experience of camping.

It is always a good idea to bring along lots of canned food for convenience and hygiene purposes. Cooking raw foods takes a little more time, and if not well cooked, may cause tummy-upsets among your fellow campers. It case it rains, make sure you are well stocked with ready-to-eat food and snacks so that you don’t go hungry.

If you are camping in the wilderness, it is important that you pack and dispose your foods properly. Foods should be well packed in plastic bags and be kept away from the tents where you sleep. Wild animals like bears are attracted to the smell of food, so the placing of food away from the main camping area will prevent any unpleasant encounters with these animals.

When choosing your camping site, make sure that you are aware of where the nearest, police stations, hospitals and other local authorities are located so that in case of any emergencies you will know where to go for help. Make sure that the site you have chosen fall within the camping zones of the park.

During the camping trip, it is important to obey all park rules and clean up well after camping. Outdoor activities such as camping and hiking take a toll on the environment, so we should do all we can to minimize the damage that we cause during such activities.
Photo Credit: the left-handed robot

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3 Things to Pack In Your Hiking Backpack

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Planning a hiking trip? If you’re there are many things you can bring along with you on your hike that you may convenient in your time of need. The goal is to minimize your weight while still bringing all the essentials. So what are the essentials for a hike? This article will list 3 items that you may have not thought about bringing with you on your hike.

Food and Water

Food and water should be the first thing that runs through your mind when you think of the essentials you need to pack. Even if you’re thinking about roughing it in the outdoors by catching your own food, bringing up backup food and water is very important just in case of an emergency. It’s very easy to become dehydrated if you’re hiking in very hot weather. When considering how much to bring you should pay attention to how far you will be hiking in addition to how many days you will be there.

Clothes

Medicine and Emergency Care

When you’re going for a hike you should also be ready for the worst that any medical condition could cause you or a friend. It’s crucial that you bring their medicine because if they were to have a reaction while out hiking it would be very difficult to them back to a hospital in time. Packing a first aid kit is never bad idea either as there can be many dangerous plants and animals that you could come across in the woods. Personal care items such as sunscreen and tissues may also be important to you, but aren’t necessary.

If you pack these three essentials in your backpack you’re sure to make your hiking trip a much safer one to remember. Remember that you need to consider all of the essentials and pack in a way that reduces the weight of the backpack so you don’t strain yourself.

Photo Credits: richardmasoner

The Hiking and Camping First Aid Kit

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

While the hiker who’s a trained doctor is a rarity, most doctors would agree that it’s better to self-treat when out in the wilderness and encountering an emergency medical situation, rather than not to treat at all. For this reason, when you’re hiking or camping, constructing a quality first aid kit that adequately prepares you for the challenges of the outdoors will be one of the most important stages of your preparation.

First aid kits can only carry so much, but if you know what to carry and how to use it, you can help those materials make the greatest possible impact on the positive health and safety of yourself and those you’re travelling with. Here are some items to include in your hiking or camping first-aid kit.

-Bandages.

Covering up cuts and scraps will be crucial for preventing infection and promoting the healing of your dings and dents, and will be especially crucial for deeper knicks and cuts. Carry a variety of bandages, including a bandage roll for taping, triangular bandages, butterfly bandages, and an assorted variety of adhesive bandages, in a range of sizes.

-Disinfectants and alcohol swaps.

Again, preventing infection is often one of the highest priorities in outdoor medical situations, and treating cuts or marks the proper way will go a long way toward preventing infection. Before even dressing a wound, being able to apply disinfectant of some sort, fighting against bacteria, will be a key issue.

-Medicine.

This seems obvious, but what kind of medicine? Many recommend Aspirin or ibuprofen, so those might be good to carry. But also consider a possible attack of diarrhea or other stomach sickness that will require some ideal digestive medicine to help ease suffering and get the recovery process going more quickly. Consider medicines for treating diarrhea, especially, as an essential element, even if you carry small amounts of that medicine.

-Gauze and wipes.

Gauze and wipes are important to carry because you don’t exactly want to clean wounds with leaves while you’re out there. Gauze is very lightweight, so it makes sense to carry plenty without adding any burden to what you’re carrying on a hike, and it might just come in handy.

-A Swiss Army knife.

A Swiss Army knife already has plenty of tools for working in the outdoors, but scissors can prove especially useful in medical situations, helping cut through clothing to get to a wound, or helping to dress and replace the bandages on a wound.

Be sure to look at first aid kits and check out the local situations of each hiking and camping opportunity to make sure that your first aid kit is customized to your needs.

Photo Credits: gregor_y

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Must-Have Survival Equipment for Hiking

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Let’s face it: some of us take rather tame hikes. We might head out to a “bunny” hill, or a place with clearly-mapped trails that never veer off too far from civilization. Some of us are amateur hikers who prefer to still be able to hear the sounds of the highway even as we reach the hilltop.

But for more serious hikers, not everything is so comfortable and predictable. Bottom line: you could get lost on a hike. Rather than worry about it, it’s better to prepare for it. Here are some must-have pieces of equipment to bring with you in case you get lost:

• Navigation: Whether you bring a map/compass or a GPS watch, you should have some sort of contingency for finding your way around. At the very least, be able to discern your direction so that you know where you came from and where you’re going.
• Fire-starters: Flint, matches, a lighter: whatever you need to get a fire going, bring it. If you ever get lost into the night hours and the temperature drops, you’re going to need a fire to stay warm. Fire also has other practical purposes, like boiling water and preparing food.
• A knife: In addition to helping you start a fire with flint, a knife has so many practical uses that any survivalist will tell you to bring a knife whenever you head out into the wild. From building shelter to hunting down food, a knife (especially a multi-purpose knife like a Swiss Army Knife) won’t seem like a luxury. It will seem like a necessity.
• Medical packs: A first-aid kit with disinfectant, tape, gauze and other necessary items will be vital, especially if you ever get knicked or gashed and need to prevent an infection without the help of civilization. Make sure to bring enough medical supplies for everyone in your party – and, to be on the safe side, bring a little extra.
• Food and water: Water is always a necessity, but the need for it increases with higher temperatures. If you get lost, it’s a much safer bet to find your water supply first, as humans can survive much longer without food than water. But bringing more than enough of both will keep you going as you gather your bearings once lost.

Keep in mind that most hikers don’t encounter an emergency situation like this – but it does happen. Rather than assume the best on the hiking trail, it’s wise to take a more cautious approach. Bring more food than you need, bring a Swiss Army Knife even if you can’t think of any uses for it. Simply by making these survival items a staple in your hiking pack and keeping them there, you’ll be prepared for getting lost every time you venture out in the woods.

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Five Important Things to Remember When You’re Camping With Your Kids

Friday, August 14th, 2009

If you’re the parent of kids you might consider to be city-slickers, a jaunt into the woods for a good amount of time spent camping might exactly be what the doctor ordered. Not only does it help them realize the relative comforts of civilization, but you should be able to teach them some basic skills they can use all of their life. It’s also important to make sure that they stay safe and don’t take unnecessary risks. Here are five things to remember when you bring your kids on a camping trip.

1: Don’t try to drag them along.

Any input your children can give you into the camping trip itself should help them feel like they’re part of the caravan; try to avoid dragging along to somewhere only you want to go. Try to pick out three camping spots and ask them which one looks the most exciting to them, and get their input while purchasing some camping supplies. It could also help to put them in charge of on area of the camping trip, especially something small like s’mores.

2: Bring plenty of food, and avoid sugar.

If you have smaller children, it should probably go without saying that sugary foods come with an up-and-down effect: your children will be running wild and expending energy so much that they’ll practically collapse of exhaustion later. Feel free to bring a treat or two – if you must get something unhealthy, a salty snack might work better. If they need sugar, let them get that from fruit, which has a much more stable effect on mood.

3: Bring a first aid kit.

Kids are going to be more prone to bruises and scrapes around the camp, not to mention more serious things like burns. Be sure to be prepared with a first-aid kit in tow, and be ready to call in help if there’s an emergency. Clean out your kid’s scrapes and cuts to prevent infection, particularly if you’re on an extended camping trip.

4: Dole out fun duties to keep them occupied.

I don’t have to tell you that kids bore easily, so make sure that every kid who’s capable has a small task when it’s time to prepare a campfire dinner or get to bed. For example, if one child has been in charge of the s’mores, tell them to bring them out, and then help them find sticks for roasting marshmallows.

5: Have fun.

Remember that not everything has to be a mission when you’re having fun with your kids in the outdoors. Enjoy these times, particularly before your children grow up, because time will continue to fly by.

Photo Credits: gussifer | thecolorawesome.com