Hiking, geocaching, mountain biking, surfing, swimming, jump roping and many other outdoor hobbies are popular with hobbyists in the summer months. If you are a fan of one of these, making sure you take safety precautions will enable you to keep having fun right into the cooler days of autumn.
Don't Pursue Hobbies Alone
Almost any outdoor hobby, from rock climbing to taking a nature hike, can be dangerous at times. Falling and spraining an ankle when you are with a friend or a group of fellow enthusiasts can put a damper on the day. Falling when you are alone and sustaining an injury can be much more dangerous and may even prove to be fatal.
Protect Your Skin
Ticks, chiggers, snakes and sunburn are all things that come with the territory when you are enjoying nature. The CDC recommends, "Wear long sleeves, long pants, and long socks when practical." This is especially important if you are heading into the woods or a meadow, since these clothes can provide some protection from ticks. Don't forget to use sunscreen and a good mosquito and tick repellent anytime you will be out in the sun or may be exposed to creepy crawly pests.
Be Prepared Before You Head Out to Have Fun
It can be tempting to skip the step where you pack all of your gear and double check your inventory when you are just heading out for a quick hike on a local trail or are meeting up with a few friends to surf at a beach you've been to a few dozen times. However, all it takes is one injury or one case of over exertion to make everyone very glad they've taken the time to prepare.
In the summer, getting ready for any outdoor activities should involve packing extra sunscreen, a few extra bottles of water and at least one bottle of a sports drink, a good basic first aid kit, whistles for everyone in the group, some protein bars, extra socks and a poncho or tarp. While you probably may not need any of those items, you'll be glad you have them if something does go wrong. Remember, cell phones don't always work in areas that are heavily wooded or very rural and help may not be just a phone call away.
Hydrate Before, During and After
If you've ever taken a high impact exercise class or learned a sport like martial arts, you probably know how thirsty you can get when you exert yourself. You probably bring a bottle of water when you participate in energetic activities, but did you know that you should think about drinking a glass of water before you head out on a rock climbing expedition or a day of surfing? I didn't until I talked to a Karate instructor at Impact Martial Arts in Perryville, Maryland. She recommend that students be sure they are hydrated before they start classes and that they bring a bottle of water along so that they can continue to replenish their bodies during instruction so that they don't become dehydrated.
Once you take these few simple safety precautions, you'll be ready for months of fun with your favorite warm weather hobbies. Perhaps thinking about your safety may even lead to adding another hobby to your favorite activities - survival skills training.
Katelyn Thomas - If you can't find me in the spring, I'm out hiking through the wood with a few pounds of photography gear strapped to my back. In the ...
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