“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin striding out with walking stick in hand | Philadelphia, USA
There are three main points to remember in regards to staying healthy and safe in the wilderness:
- Prevention
- Awareness
- Adaptation
Prevention
It’s better than cure. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this age-old truism, however, if you happen to read through the entire Health & Safety section, you will notice that I give it a very good try. In short, do your research, prepare as best you can and don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Awareness
Always be conscious of changes in the weather, terrain and your own physical and mental state.
Adaptation
Adapt to the conditions you are facing. Forecasts aren’t always correct and Mother Nature does not have a copy of your itinerary. Better to finish the hike a little late, than to potentially put yourself at serious risk. The same principle applies to your own well being. Learn to differentiate between reasonable levels of discomfort and serious pain which may lead to debilitating injury. Your own experiences will ultimately be your best teacher.