Love travel and adventure, but cherish life even more—safety first in travel, exploration, and self-driving tours. Before setting out, “travel enthusiasts” should thoroughly understand the terrain and landforms of their destination; be well-equipped with protective gear such as helmets, ropes, and walking sticks; and prepare adequately, as wilderness exploration requires attention to issues like temperature, falls, and getting lost. Also, before departure, fully understand the local weather and bring a compass and GPS positioning device.
During wilderness exploration trips, you may encounter various accidents. Below are some emergency measures:
1. Venomous Snake Bite: If bitten by a venomous snake in the wild, symptoms such as bleeding, localized swelling, and pain may occur, and death can result within hours in severe cases. Quickly tie a cloth strip, handkerchief, or tie tightly above the wound to prevent the spread of venom, then use a disinfected knife to make a 1 cm long, 0.5 cm deep incision at the wound site and suck out the venom with your mouth. If there is no damage to the oral mucosa, digestive fluids can neutralize the venom, so there’s no need to worry about poisoning. For insect bites or stings: apply cold water compress, remove the stinger, and then apply ammonia or milk.
2. Fracture or Dislocation: Immobilize with a splint and then apply cold compress. If you fall from a tree or rock and injure your spine, place the patient on a flat and sturdy stretcher, immobilize them, and avoid any body movement before sending them to the hospital.
3. Food Poisoning: Eating spoiled or rotten food may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, as well as fever and weakness. Drink plenty of fluids or saline solution, or induce vomiting to expel the food.
4. Telling Directions When Lost in the Wild: Observe a tree stump—the wider side of the growth rings indicates the south; look at a tree—the branches and leaves are denser on the southern side and sparser on the northern side; observe an ant nest—most entrances face south; in rocky areas, find a prominent rock—the side covered in moss is the north, while the dry and bare side is the south; you can also use a watch to determine direction: divide the current time by 2, align the resulting number with the sun, and the direction the 12 o’clock mark points to is north.
5. What to Do if You Encounter Thunderstorms While Hiking: Do not take shelter under large rocks, cliffs, or cave entrances during thunderstorms, as electric arcs generated when lightning passes through these areas can strike those taking cover. If the cave is deep, you can hide inside as much as possible. Avoid cycling or horseback riding during a thunderstorm, as it can attract lightning. Do not hide in isolated small huts in open fields. Move away from high ground and do not seek shelter under lone trees. Stay away from metal objects. A car is an ideal place to avoid lightning—even if struck, it rarely harms passengers. If you are swimming or on a small boat, get ashore immediately. Even on larger boats, take shelter under the deck.