Everyday safety habits
- Share your plan with someone at home before every hike. See how to plan a day hike.
- Stay with your group, and walk at the pace of the slowest person.
- Stay on the marked trail and watch for signs and blazes at junctions.
- Keep track of time and stick to your turnaround time.
- Eat and drink regularly, before you feel hungry or thirsty.
If you think you are lost
Many search and rescue groups teach the word STOP:
- Stop. Stay where you are. Walking on quickly usually makes things worse.
- Think. When did you last know where you were? What have you passed since?
- Observe. Look at your map and surroundings, and listen for roads, water or voices.
- Plan. Only move if you are sure of the way back to a known point. Otherwise stay put, keep warm and make yourself easy to find.
Staying in one place makes it much easier for searchers to find you. A whistle carries further than a voice and uses less energy; three blasts is a widely recognized call for help.
Calling for help
In the United States, call 911 in an emergency. Phone coverage on trails is patchy, so try from higher, open ground if you have no signal, and try a text if a call won't connect, where text-to-911 is available. When you reach someone, give your location as precisely as you can, what happened, and how many people are with you. Some hikers carry a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger for remote areas.
Minor injuries
Scrapes, blisters and sprained ankles are the most common trail injuries. A basic first aid kit and some knowledge help. Clean and cover cuts, treat blisters early (see socks and blisters), and rest and support a twisted ankle before deciding whether you can walk out slowly. A first aid course from an established organization teaches far more than any web page. For anything serious, such as a head injury, a suspected broken bone, chest pain or trouble breathing, call for help.
Wildlife
Seeing animals is one of the pleasures of hiking. Keep a respectful distance, never feed them, and store food so they can't get at it. Parks with bears, mountain lions, moose or snakes publish their own advice, and it differs by species and place, so read the guidance for the area you are visiting on the park or forest website before you go.
Water crossings
Streams can rise quickly after rain or during snowmelt. If water is fast, deep or murky, don't cross. Look for a bridge or a wider, slower section, or turn back. Crossing in the morning, when snowmelt streams are often lower, can help in mountain areas. Unbuckle your pack's hip belt before you cross, so you can slip it off if you fall.
If you are out after dark
Use your headlamp, slow down, and stay on the trail. If you can't follow the route safely, it is often better to stop, put on every warm layer and wait for daylight or help than to keep going and risk a fall. This is what the extra food, water, clothes and shelter in your day pack are for.
Rules and hazards differ from place to place. The rangers and staff who manage a trail know it best. Check the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service or your state or local park website before you go, and ask at a visitor center if you are unsure.