Hiking Safety Meechgalhukquot Troop 909 Riverview, FL Gulf Ridge Council
To Become a Tenderfoot Requirement 5 Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost.
Basics Plan ahead Obtain necessary permission Use the Buddy System Communicate your plans
Plan Ahead Where are you going When are you going What will you do What do you need to bring along Transportation there and back When will you return
Permission Permission from Parents Permission from land owner Adults will file a Tour Permit with Scout Office
The Rule of 4 You need a minimum of 2 buddies –2 adults giving “2 deep adult leadership” –2 Scouts If someone gets hurt, then 1 stays with the injured (one buddy pair) The other 2 go for help (2 nd buddy pair) Adult Leaders will file the Tour Permit
Communicate Adult leaders need to provide permission slip containing the plans Scout needs to give permission slip to parents Signed permission slip (tear off strip) goes back to adult leaders
On the Trail Stay with your buddy Stay with your group Leaders form a sandwich Leaders take a headcount –At the beginning –On rest periods –At the end Rest 10 minutes every hour of hiking
What to take Comfortable shoes / clean socks Water / Trail snack / Matches / Knife Sunscreen / Insect Repellent Hat / Poncho / First Aid Kit Compass / Map You may need other items depending upon conditions and what you are doing
Leadership Sandwich SPL in front and ASPL in rear of Troop –Patrols are in between PL in front of Patrol and APL in rear –Scouts are in between Never loose sight of Scout in front of you
On the Road Again Sometimes part of a trail may be on a road –Walk facing traffic –Walk single file –If you have to walk on a road at night Wear light colored or reflective items Carry flashlight to point at the ground
Crossing a Road If the trail requires you to cross a road –Everyone lines up parallel to the road –PL and APL verify the lineup of Patrol –SPL and ASPL verify the lineup of Troop –When traffic is clear Everyone crosses at the same time 4 Scouts or 40 Scouts take same of time This way you never Scouts in both lanes
Lightning In the Native American language, Tampa means lightning. During a Thunderstorm –stay off high, open ground –stay away from isolated trees –Find shelter among small trees in low areas or lie on the ground –Make shelter with a tarp or groundcloth
Cold Avoid Hypothermia –stay dry –being aware of the wind –Dress in layers Even temperatures in 50s or 60s can be life threatening if you are not prepared
Heat and Sun Dress in layers. Remove layers to avoid overheating Drink plenty of water Remember hat and sunscreen Did we mention that you need to put the sunscreen on?
Lost If you get separated from your group or your group becomes lost –Sit down, stay calm, stay safe, don’t panic –Wait to be found –Look for Landmarks using map & compass
If you are really Lost Stay where you are Signal your location –Make noise (yelling, whistle) –Signal fires or large ground symbols –3 of anything signals an emergency When you do not show up as planned –People will come looking for you –That’s why parents get your itinerary
BOY USES SCOUT TRICKS TO SURVIVE NIGHT OUT A 10-year-old Boy Scout survived 18 hours lost in the Pike National Forest. The lad, who hails from Castle Rock, CO got separated from the group he was hiking with but huddled next to a backwoods shack to stay out of the wind on Saturday night when he realized he was lost. Searchers found him the next morning. He had used old gutters to spell "HELP" on the ground. The boy said he also recalled pointers from the Boy Scout Handbook that helped him get through the night. Source: Rocky Mountain News May 21, 2001
Trails End Most hikes have no problems Hikes can have a reason –To see a particular place –To do a certain thing when you get there Fish or swim for example Use common sense to have a good time Meechgalhukquot