Hill safety for walkers
Hill safety for walkers - What to do if something goes wrong.
Hill safety - Useful Tips
During winter a slip or trip out on the hill can be a far more dangerous situation. We need to think about hill safety for walkers. This is very different than the summer months when you can sit and wait in the sun until help arrives.
In winter these situations can develop extremely fast. That’s why it’s important to be prepared when out on the hill.
Below are some tips looking at what to do, so you are prepared on the hill in winter.
Also, we will look at what to do if something goes wrong whilst you are in the hills. Also look at generic hill safety for walkers, a great example of this is from Mountain Rescue England & Wales
Emergency Kit
In your rucksack it is advised to have a dry bag with some emergency kit.
These should include a whistle, headtorch, spare AA batteries, hand warmers, spare laces, repair tape, spare hat & gloves, foil bag, and a warm emergency layer.
First Aid
Always carry a fully stocked first aid kit on the hill.
This should be full of items for larger problems, but it can always be used so smaller issues. So rather than a bag full of small plasters, carry lots of bandages, absorbent pads, blister plasters, and large dressings as well as wipes and gloves.
Help – Phone signal or In Reach Device
Getting help is generally the same in summer or winter, but the need for this to happen quicker is more important in the winter.
Mobile phones generally don’t like the cold, and having to use it is liaised with the Emergency services in the winter months could kill the battery very quickly. There is also the risk that there won’t be phone signal where you are. For this reasons you need to consider carrying a small two-way satellite communicator
Mobile Phone App or GPS Unit? This is a really useful article weighing up the pro's and con's.
A two-way satellite communicator will allow you to send an SOS message in an emergency and has 100% global coverage. The monitoring centre will then get back to you with regular updates on the Emergency Services response, in the UK they will raise Mountain Rescue or the relevant emergency services to aid your rescue.
There are various two-way satellite communicators to choose from, these do all have subscriptions attached to them, and there are different options available.
Why not explore our range of two-way satellite communication devices. Whether you're hiking, trekking, or working off-grid, stay in touch and access emergency services.
We stock trusted brands like Garmin and Zoleo, offering reliable messaging, SOS capabilities, and seamless communication even in areas without mobile coverage. Priced from £139.99 there is a device to suit your budget and requirements. Two Way Satellite Communication from Outdoor GPS Shop
Further reading
