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AVOID HYPOTHERMIA
Take the time to put on and shed clothing
layers as the situation warrants. The less you sweat due to clothing, the better. Clothing (and socks) made of cotton will not keep you warm should they become wet. Use synthetic layers including fl eece. The air temperature falls about three degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Temperatures in the high country can drop rapidly. Hypothermia (low body temperature) can occur when you are wet, chilled, fatigued or dressed in- appropriately; even during warm weather. Warning signs are confusion, diffi culty speaking, irritability and loss of coordination. Bring along extra clothes, drink and eat suffi ciently and watch for warning signs in each other. If in doubt, stop, warm up, take fl uids and food, and if necessary send for help. Frostbite is caused by cold exposure resulting
in ice crystals forming in the skin. It frequently occurs in the extremities, specifi cally the nose, ears, fi ngers and toes. The skin becomes numb, fi rm and yellowish white in color. Rewarming will cause tingling and pain with skin color changes and blisters occurring in severe cases. Prevention includes dressing appropriately in cold weather (layering), wearing boots and gloves that are not wet or too tight, and taking time to warm up frequently.
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ON THE TRAIL If you encounter a downed tree or a
landslide across the trail you basical- ly have three choices: 1) Turn around and go back the way you came; 2) Go around the obstacle, if it is safe and possible to do so; or 3) Remove the obstacle blocking the trail so that you and others may pass. You should only consider mov-
ing an obstacle such as a downed tree if you have somebody you trust to hold horses, while dis- mounted. In the event you move a log out of the way and it rolls down- hill, crashing and making noise. You need to make sure that your horse and any other horses in your
group are being held securely so they will not get loose should they panic from the noise. Obviously this is a time to exercise good judgment. Be sure before removing any trail
obstacles that nobody is in harm’s way. If you encounter a washout or an extremely technical or narrow section of trail, check for an alternative way around. If there are no safe ways to go around,
ENCOUNTERING OBSTACLES
then you may wish to dismount and have your friend hold your horse for you while you check it out on foot. Do not proceed across any areas that feel unstable or too narrow. It’s safer to turn around and go back. If you encounter a wild animal, re-
member they rarely attack humans with- out provocation. Try to avoid contact with wild animals and do not attempt to corner or capture them. If you are going to be in an area with bears keep all of your food in bear safe containers or tied high up out of reach in a tree. Animals with rabies normally show ab-
normal eye movements, excess salivation, staggering gait, and convulsions. Rabid animals will also approach humans. If you or your horse are bitten by a wild animal: ß Seek medical help as immediately as is possible
ß Apply a pressure bandage to the wound to control bleeding
ß Use copious amounts of safe water and soap to cleanse the wound and reduce infection
ß See a physician about the need for an- tibiotic treatment or if you fear a rabies infection
ß After cleansing, cover the wound with a sterile bandage or clean dry cloth
26 June | July 2010 •
WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
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