How to react to unforeseen events and accidents in the wilderness?

The injuries

The mountains can give you a hard time: abundant flora and sometimes uneven paths can quickly lead to more or less serious injuries.

What to do in case of a cut/scratch?

In these moments, the first aid kit will be your best friend! We clean the wound with the sterile compress present in the kit then we disinfect, and finally, depending on the size of the wound, we use the bandage to prevent external elements from entering.

Don't forget to keep the remains of the dressings and the compress with you so that you can throw them away as soon as you find a trash can and not in nature.

What to do in case of burn?

You want to cook yourself a small gourmet meal with your favorite stove, be careful not to burn yourself! If your clumsiness causes you to burn yourself, you will have to react very quickly. The most important thing will be to first put a large quantity of water on the burn, cold if possible. If you have a stream or a lake nearby, go and immerse your hand in the water and leave it for a while

What to do in case of a sprain or fracture?

Ankle sprains are quite common when hiking, especially on steep and long trails. To avoid this type of injury, mid-high and high hiking shoes are highly recommended, especially if your bag is heavy, in order to maintain good foot stability and secure your ankle. Hiking poles will also be your best teammates to make your task easier and maintain stability in your movements. If, despite everything, you happen to twist your ankle, immediately apply cold and immobilize the injury. Thanks to your fixation band present in your first aid kit, you will be able to protect your ankle.

If the pain persists or is too severe, it is advisable to call for help if it is really difficult for you to move.

Bad weather

When nature takes over, don't take off your clothes. (Unless you're well equipped!)

The weather is often changeable in the mountains, which is why, before setting off head first, good equipment is essential.

In extreme heat : In the mountains, UV rays are even more intense, which is why good protection will guarantee good safety.

Sun protection equipment is necessary in hot weather. A backpack with water pocket will allow you to hydrate regularly and avoid heat stroke.

How to react during a heat stroke? Hydrate yourself as much as possible, find a shady and cool spot if possible.

The survival blanket provides additional protection to better regulate your body temperature, to be used with the silver side facing outwards.

In extreme cold : warm but technical clothing. Indeed, it is not by bringing the triple-layer wool sweater knitted by your grandmother that you will be warm, quite the contrary.

The 3-layer rule:

The first layer: A close-fitting, long-sleeved T-shirt, using natural materials that promote good temperature regulation ( merino T-shirt , castor fiber ).

Mid-layer: A lightweight, breathable yet warm fleece .

3rd layer: Waterproof jacket essential for protection from wind, rain and snow.

What should you do when there is a risk of hypothermia? Take shelter from the wind and cold, drink something warm and eat something sweet. Use a survival blanket with the gold side facing out to regulate body temperature.

Fauna and flora

And yes, we are not the only ones who like to walk in the forest or in the mountains. And some are even very curious, even too curious. Here are the good behaviors to have if you ever encounter wild animals.

How to react when faced with a bear? Bears are not very numerous in France, we will find them mainly in the Pyrenees.

Bears are very curious and will sometimes try to approach you. However, they will not necessarily want you well. This is why you must react correctly.

If you see a bear, first try not to be noticed. Then you should stay calm and move away slowly.

There are 2 possible reactions to a bear attack: If it is a brown bear, you should play dead, stay on the ground on your stomach to protect your vital organs and put your hand on the back of your neck to protect your head. In most cases, the bear will come and inspect you and leave. If it is a black bear: raise your arms, make noise and use a deep and confident voice to show it that you are not easy prey.

It is important to know that there are bear sprays that are very useful for solo adventurers.

How to react when faced with a snake? In order to best avoid snakes, you will need to be vigilant, especially near rocks and areas of dense vegetation. In the event of a bite, call for help quickly.

Wild plants

Nature has a rich and varied flora. Learn to know and recognize them in order to better protect yourself from plants that can be toxic and/or irritating.

It is advisable to walk with hiking pants rather than shorts in the mountains thanks to resistant and reinforced materials.