Outdoor Safety 101

Oct. 15, 2001 -- Before 38-year-old Los Angeles architect Andrew Alper went backpacking in the Sierra, he knew full well that crossing the creek at Convict Canyon would be a hazardous undertaking. Trail information had warned that the fast-moving stream was dangerous; several bridges had already been washed away. Yet Alper and his three companions decided to cross the creek -- carefully.

Despite their caution, something went wrong. The group was moving quickly, hoping to outrun an approaching storm. Alper lost his footing in the rushing water, and, as his foot buckled, he felt his knee give way with a painful wrench. He stumbled across the creek to the opposite bank, where his knee quickly became swollen and the pain grew more intense.

Fortunately, the four hikers had their wits about them. Alper's friends fashioned a walking stick for him, then took most of the stuff out of his backpack and divided it among their own packs. "One person stayed with me while I hobbled along the trail, and the other two went down to get the car ready," says Alper. "We got caught in the rain, but not for too long."

Alper and his friends were fairly experienced hikers, and their reactions were swift and decisive. But many people heading outdoors for a getaway might find themselves unsure of what to do in the same situation. The new "reality" television program Survivor, in which 16 people volunteer to be shipped off to a remote area to fend for themselves for several weeks, has got average Americans musing about how well they might do in similar circumstances. Should I bandage a gash with a banana leaf? Wrestle a snake to the ground? How would I survive in the outdoors?

While most people who venture outdoors will make it home unscathed, being prepared is the best way to make sure that any mishaps remain minor. "It's when people don't have maps, adequate clothing, and water that they get into real trouble," says Scott Votey, MD, an associate professor of internal and emergency medicine at the University of California Los Angeles Medical School.

The Right Stuff: What to Bring

Surprisingly, it's not the people who go on long trips in the wilderness who get into medical emergencies. "Almost universally, the people we end up having to rescue are day hikers who didn't prepare well because they thought they'd be out for only a few hours," says Buck Tilton, EMT-W (wilderness emergency medical technician), director of curriculum and development at the Wilderness Medicine Institute of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).

Tilton recommends these 10 essentials for any outdoor excursion:

• an extra layer of clothing (in case of cold)
• a waterproof jacket or shell (in case of rain)
• plenty of water or a filter to disinfect stream water
• matches
• sun protection (hats, sunscreen)
• map
• compass
• insect repellent
• adequate food and water
• first aid kit (buy one made for outdoor trips, says Tilton, otherwise you'll end up with one that's two small or too big)

Optional items include tweezers, antibacterial hand sanitizing gel, antihistamines, pain relievers, Pepto Bismol or Mylanta, a bandana, and blister treatment pads.