While hiking is a pleasurable and much-enjoyed pastime for many of us, accidents and emergencies unfortunately do happen and it is crucial that you prepare for this if disaster is to be avoided. At Outdoorlook.co.uk we want all our friends and customers to be safe when they are out and about so we have come up with our five point Safety Guide that may just help you in the future.

1. Be Prepared

As the Boy Scout motto says – be prepared. The weather can change very suddenly – particularly during the winter – so if you find yourself in freezing temperatures layer up your outdoor clothing to keep warm and if possible find shelter. Conserve your energy by staying put and waiting for assistance.

2. Stay Calm

One of the most important aspects in survival is the ability to stay calm. When the worst happens, it can be made ten times more severe if people start to panic or argue, so stay rational, keep the rest of your party calm and get things in perspective.

3. Equipment

Make sure you always have the right survival equipment in your backpack including food, water, water purification tablets, a first aid kit, a map and compass, waterproof jacket and warm clothing such as a good fleece jacket, as well as a mobile phone, torch and whistle for communicating.

4. Treatment

If somebody is ill or injured keep them warm, supply food and water as necessary and provide constant reassurance and updates to keep the casualty positive. If you suspect that the hurt party could have sustained injury to their back or neck do not move them – keep them warm and wait for medical assistance.

5. Training

If you are a regular walker it would be well worth enrolling on a basic first aid programme. Courses are run regularly at most schools, colleges and hospitals and there are plenty of books or online resources that can help to prepare you in case the worst should happen.

For more useful hiking guides from Outdoor Look, please visit our hiking guides section.