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Article: How To Remove a Tick

Posted on09. Aug, 2010 by TrekBC.

Ticks can attach themselves to animals or humans. Once they do, they begin drawing blood. When a tick is found, it should be removed immediately. The longer it is allowed to stay and draw blood, the higher the person’s chances are of contracting a tick-borne illness. It is important to remove the tick correctly so that it doesn’t have a chance to regurgitate its saliva.

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Article: Balanced Diet for Active People

Posted on09. Aug, 2010 by TrekBC.

This article looks at the Food Pyramid and how you can organize your meals and plan for a healthy, active lifestyle. A balanced diet is essential for those of you wishing to hike for eight or nine hours every weekend!

The Food Pyramid, developed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), is an excellent tool to help you make healthy food choices. The food pyramid can help you choose from a variety of foods so you get the nutrients you need, and the suggested serving sizes can help you control the amount of calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar or sodium in your diet. This is especially important if you lead an active lifestyle and if you’re reading this, you almost certainly do!

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Article: Personal Protective Equipment

Posted on22. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used by first aiders to protect themselves from injury or infection. There is personal protective equipment to keep you safe from physical injuries, from chemical hazards, and from infection. First aiders should follow their professional counterparts by practicing universal precautions and using PPE to provide protection from infection when assisting victims in an emergency.

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Article: Universal First Aid Precautions

Posted on22. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

The most common hazard faced by a person performing first aid is the threat of communicable disease. Professional rescuers follow standard practices and use personal protective equipment (PPE) when providing medical care to victims. The same should go for you and I. These practices are commonly referred to as universal precautions or body substance isolation.

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Article: How to Perform CPR

Posted on21. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

Everyone should know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It can prove vital in the field and when you’re out hiking help from others isn’t always close at hand. The tips on this page give you a basic outline of how to perform the correct cpr procedures but are by no means a replacement for a full and in depth first aid course. We recommend signing up for a course in your local area to further extend your lifesaving knowledge.

For now though, here’s what you’ll need to do if your help is required…

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Article: Burn Treatment

Posted on21. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

It’s unlikely you will receive a burn while out hiking but the chances increase greatly if you are camping. Fire places and stoves hold all kinds of dangers and if you do get burnt it’s important you know what to do, especially since professional medical help is not likely to be close at hand.

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Article: How to Use an EpiPen

Posted on21. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

An EpiPen is used to give yourself a shot during an emergency allergic reaction. The pen is disposable and has a hidden needle, which is activated by a spring inside the pen. EpiPen makes giving yourself a shot easy. It also makes it easy for someone else to give you a shot if you are unable to do it yourself.

This video from EpiPen shows you how to use the device in much more detail. Don’t forget, this important information isn’t just for people who suffer life threatening alleric reactions. You should know how to use an EpiPen in case the victim is unable to either do it themselves or tell you what to do. Pay attention, it could save a life!

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Article: Bee Stings & Insect Bites

Posted on20. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

If you’ve ever been stung by a bee you know it’s a painful event and the irritation can last for a few days! For most of us, an irritation is as far as it goes. For others though, the situation can be much more serious.

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Article: Muscle Soreness

Posted on20. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

As a hiker you are likely to experience 2 types of muscle soreness on a regular basis. The first is that burning, painful sensation you feel when climbing up a steep trail. Your legs are screaming at you to stop and you have to battle through the pain barrier and keep on trekking. This pain is the result of lactic acid building up in your muscles. If your body is in good shape it will quickly purge this waste product and your muscles will be back to normal, usually within an hour.

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Article: Lightning Hazard

Posted on08. May, 2010 by TrekBC.

Thunderstorms are a very serious and frequently underestimated danger to hikers. Lightning is a form of electrical discharge which may take place between two parts of the same cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. Thunder is the sound waves produced by the explosive heating of the air in the lightning channel during the return.

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Article: Sleeping Bags

Posted on10. Feb, 2010 by TrekBC.

Sleeping bags are an important purchase for the wilderness traveler. Warmth and comfort are vital for both survival and the general enjoyment of your trip.

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