Enjoy the mountain without risks

Enjoy the mountain without risks

What risks does the mountain entail?

A mountain is always a beautiful place, whatever the season; at the same time, it is also isolated, hostile, and difficult to access. This makes prevention essential to minimize accidents, which can even be fatal.

And it is that the practice of mountain sports is risky not only because of the objective dangers of the mountain -cold, heat, sun, storms, wind, fog, light, animals...-but also because of the subjective dangers, derived from the training and the physical-health condition of the person who practices it.

What are the main injuries that usually occur?

Both a walk through the mountains and a more intense journey require a certain physical effort, which, together with the characteristics of the terrain, can lead to certain mishaps or health problems:

· Effort pathologies: overloads and hypoglycemia.

· Mechanical pathologies: bruises, tears, sprains, wounds, and fractures.

· Pathologies by temperature: cold (hypothermia and frostbite), heat (sunstroke, heat stroke, and burns).

· Pathologies produced by lightning strikes.

· Pathologies produced by animals or plants: stings, bites, and poisoning.

· Base pathologies exacerbated by the activity carried out.

How to act if we suffer an accident in the mountains?

It is important to know that the circumstances in this environment are not like in the city, where we have health services available to assist us in a matter of minutes. Banal situations in the urban environment become very complicated in the mountains since help can take hours to arrive.

For this reason, prudence and common sense must prevail in our mountaineering activities, since taking risks to extreme limits only demonstrates the foolishness of those who practice them.

As in any type of accident -both in the mountains and on the road, at work, etc.- we must remember the acronym PAS :

· Protect.

· to visa

· It will happen.

What measures are essential to enjoy the mountain?

For all of the above, it is important to always exercise extreme precautions and take into account a series of essential prevention measures to spend a perfect day in the mountains:

· Have good technical training and physical preparation.

· Check the weather in advance.

· Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

· Notify the place where the activity will take place.

· Never go alone.

On the other hand, even if it involves an expense, it should be a priority to be affiliated with a mountain club, because, along with organized group outings, all kinds of courses are taught in the clubs, in addition to covering rescue and assistance, if necessary.

What should we take into account before going on an excursion or going to the mountains?

In addition to these general measures, there are certain aspects that it is essential to take into account before embarking on the mountain or simply going on an excursion.

· Planning: knowing what route or plan is going to be carried out, where, and how many people are going to go and always calculating the time about the person with less physical and/or technical capacity (approximate).

· Equipment: we must bring a flashlight, knife, maps of the area, compass or GPS, mobile phone with spare battery, and whistle.

· Meteorology: you always have to take into account the weather forecasts and inform us in several places or ask in the area where we are going to carry out the activity about what forecasts are for the date of our departure. General data is not the same as that of a specific area.

· Clothing: we will dress according to the three-layer system: the first layer is a breathable T-shirt; the second, is a thermal jacket, and the third, is a waterproof windbreaker. Our footwear also has to be suitable for the activity (better that it covers the ankle) and we will wear socks that absorb moisture (2 pairs). We will also bring a hat, gloves (2 pairs), sunglasses, and a buff or tubular scarf.

· First- aid kit: it should include a thermal blanket, gloves, adhesive tape -preferably broadcloth-, tweezers, scissors, gauze, and a self-adhesive bandage. It is also a good idea to bring anti-inflammatories/analgesics (if there are no allergies or contraindications), disinfectant (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine), small saline solutions, sun protection cream, and ointment to treat minor bites. If we have a triangle of cloth about 50-60 cm on each side, we can make bandages and immobilizations... And ideally, someone from the group has first-aid knowledge.

Ten tips to enjoy the mountains safely

1. Receive technical and first aid training.

It is important to be trained and updated in terms of basic safety measures related to the material (ropes, cane carabiners, etc.), or terrain characteristics. Likewise, knowing how to practice the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) maneuver, how to pack a wound or cut, or how to act in the event of fainting can be crucial. Go to the training of this type of knowledge.

2. Prepare yourself physically.

Whatever the altitude of the mountain or the duration or difficulty of the route, you must be physically fit to be able to carry out this activity successfully. If you are a sedentary person, it is not recommended that you start with a very demanding or long outing.

3. Check the weather forecast.

Before leaving home, take into account the weather forecast for the area and the date of the excursion, to prepare additional clothing or material. Better check more than one source to make sure.

4. Keep the material and the first-aid kit in perfect condition.

Do not forget to put in your backpack a flashlight (with batteries or a spare battery), a knife, maps of the area, a compass or GPS with maps in online and offline versions, a mobile phone (with a geolocation app) with a battery spare and whistle. And also prepare a separate bag as a first-aid kit, with adhesive tape, tweezers, scissors, and gauze... as well as anti-inflammatory or analgesic medicines, some disinfectant, physiological serums, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.

5. Dress appropriately.

Your clothing should follow the three-layer technique: first, a breathable t-shirt; then a thermal jacket, and finally a waterproof windbreaker. Wear hiking boots, two pairs of socks, gloves (bring spare ones), sunglasses, and a hat.

6. Never go alone.

Although the technical, physical, and equipment preparation must be individual because each mountaineer must have their own material, the outings must never be done without company.

7. Notify the place where the activity will take place.

In addition to planning the route or the plan that you are going to carry out well, you must tell someone who is not going to go with you the exact place of the exit and how long it may take you to complete it.

8. Hydrate and eat during the route.

Water, a sports drink, and a snack such as fruit or nuts cannot be missing from your backpack, since your body needs to recover from the physical effort you make.

9. Giving up is not a defeat.

The most important thing is to go home, so if at any time you don't have the strength to continue, you've been injured, or the weather has gotten much worse, don't hesitate and turn around; the mountain will still be there.

10. Have fun.

The mountain at an amateur level, hiking or spending a day outdoors is still a leisure activity designed to have fun and enjoy, so that should be your priority goal.