File photo.
&NL; The news that Ren An’er, a female college student from Guangzhou, went missing during a hiking trip in Xinjiang and was later found dead has left many people saddened. As outdoor sports gain popularity amid the nationwide fitness boom, safety concerns have once again sparked heated discussions. How to enjoy outdoor activities while ensuring personal safety has become a topic of great public concern. Recently, Information Times reporters conducted exclusive interviews with two outdoor sports coaches, Luoyang and Fengyue, as well as Zheng Danwen, a doctor from the Emergency Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the correct way to perform first aid in outdoor sports. Special feature planning by Zheng Shaoshan; special feature written by Yang Xingping, reporter at Information Times.
[Getting Lost]
&NL; In outdoor sports, especially activities such as hiking, orienteering, and mountaineering that take place in the wild, getting lost is one of the most common accidents. Outdoor sports experts Luoyang and Fengyue say that after getting lost in the wilderness, the key is to call for help in the right way, which will greatly increase your chances of being found.
Correct ways to ask for help:
&NL; If you realize you are lost, don’t panic and stay calm.
&NL; Call for rescue as soon as possible by phone. If you can’t accurately describe your location, provide as much detail as you can about your starting point, direction, walking time, and surrounding scenery so that rescuers can estimate the general area and improve search efficiency.
&NL; While waiting for rescue, do not move again. Stay where you are and wait for the search and rescue team. If you must leave due to uncontrollable factors (such as bad weather, wild animals, or other life-threatening dangers), try to inform the rescuers of the direction you are heading and leave clear markers along the way.
&NL; Stay calm and cheerful, and avoid anxiety or panic. Distract yourself by talking, eating, or sleeping (do not sleep in snowy, rainy, or severe weather conditions), reduce unnecessary movement, and conserve energy as much as possible.
&NL; If you cannot notify the outside world by phone, continuously send out distress signals using sound, light, smoke signals, etc. Follow the principle of “regular and continuous” signals—such as knocking three times, pausing, then repeating three knocks—to attract the attention of passersby and create as many opportunities for rescue as possible.
&NL; If the whole group gets lost, do not split up to find a way. Under no circumstances should anyone act alone. If someone must go to seek help, divide into groups as evenly as possible, preferably ensuring that both groups include male members. After the rescue-seeking group departs, the remaining members should stay put and wait for rescue.
Expert tips:
&NL; Fengyue: When exploring areas such as wilderness or snow mountains where there are few people, never go alone. Travel with familiar companions, and do not form a team on the spot when you arrive. The team should have at least four people, including male companions and at least two members with exploration experience.
[First Aid]
&NL; Injuries are the last thing we want to see but can’t always avoid. Therefore, some basic first aid knowledge and skills are undoubtedly common sense that everyone needs to master. These first aid methods are even more crucial during outdoor sports.
Basic first aid methods:
Skin injuries
&NL; When encountering minor outdoor injuries such as scrapes or skin abrasions, the first step is to clean the wound and stop the bleeding as quickly as possible. If there’s no specialized medical disinfectant, rinse the wound with cool boiled water. If you need to use water from the natural environment, boil it first and let it cool before use to avoid bacterial infection.
&NL; For small wounds that have stopped bleeding and won’t be re-bumped, avoid using adhesive bandages. For larger, deeper wounds or those with persistent bleeding, never use adhesive bandages. Instead, press the wound with sterile gauze and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Food poisoning
&NL; If you feel unwell after accidentally eating wild food, induce vomiting by gagging as soon as possible. After vomiting, drink plenty of water and seek medical care quickly.
&NL; In the outdoors, unless absolutely necessary, don’t pick and eat anything. If you must eat, prioritize berries.
Snakebite
&NL; If bitten by any snake, call 120 for help immediately (be sure to emphasize that you were bitten by a venomous snake), then stay still, avoid moving the injured limb, and wait for rescue.
&NL; You may take snakebite medicine (available at pharmacies), which has heat-clearing and detoxifying effects and can provide auxiliary treatment, but it is not a decisive cure. Take the medicine strictly according to the prescribed dosage on the instructions—do not blindly overdose, as this may cause adverse reactions and make things worse.
&NL; If possible, use a negative pressure device (like a syringe with the needle removed) to suck out blood from the wound. Do not suck with your mouth directly.
&NL; Try to remember the appearance of the snake that bit you and inform the rescue personnel.
&NL; The above methods also apply to treating insect bites.
Expert Tips:
Zheng Danwen: If you are not sure about your professional rescue skills, it's best not to attempt any kind of aid blindly, and never try to save yourself or others using methods you've seen in TV dramas. In many cases, doing more can lead to more mistakes.
[Natural Disasters]
In the face of natural disasters, life is fragile and vulnerable. Avoid traveling in severe weather as a sign of respect for nature and for the value of life. Checking the weather conditions and geographical features of your destination before you go is an essential preparation.
Self-rescue Methods in Sudden Natural Disasters:
Thunderstorm
When a thunderstorm occurs, if you are in open fields, forests, or other lightning-prone areas, stop moving immediately, discard all metal objects on your person, and quickly crouch down (if your backpack is made of waterproof material, you may sit on it but never on the ground). Cover your head with both hands and curl your body as tightly as possible. If possible, take rain protection measures to avoid getting your clothes wet.
Wait at least 15 minutes after the thunder has moved away before standing up, and move to a safe area as soon as possible. When traveling in a group during a thunderstorm, members must spread out.
Moving Water
In most situations, staying on flat land is safer than entering water bodies. Avoid crossing water unless absolutely necessary. If you must do so, remove your clothes to cross and put them back on afterward to prevent hypothermia caused by wet clothing. Before crossing a river, try to find a thick, long stick. It can help support your body and reduce the risk of slipping, and can also be used to test the water depth to avoid sudden falls.
Expert Tip
Luoyang: We have a saying — “The mountain will always be there.” Never try to overcome bad weather. No trip is worth risking your life for.