Injuries, failures, and lessons are part of expanding one’s ideas and attempting new things beyond one’s comfort zone. This typical process includes us in all areas of life. Activities can be physical or psychological, and it doesn’t matter.
Try not to take setbacks or injuries personally; they are simply a part of the game. If you’re starting outdoor adventures like hiking or camping, remember that you’ll only grow as a person when you’re forced to face your fears and overcome your doubts.
Below we have created a list of 10 common injuries and diseases and their treatments. Remember that some hiking injuries are treatable, but if not treated in a reasonable timeframe, they can lead to more severe complications.
The 10 Common Injuries a Trekker Can Face
Sunburn:
Sunburn is damage due to skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation found in sunshine. Most people don’t wear sunscreen when hiking or trekking, and those who do often forget to reapply it.
The best way to protect yourself from the sun is to wear protective clothing, such as a hat, a scarf for your face and neck, and long-sleeved shirt and trousers.
If you’ve been exposed to the sun and are experiencing pain, try applying a wet towel or shirt. A few days after a sunburn, the body begins to recover. You should seek medical treatment if it worsens or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a high temperature or nausea.
Snow Blindness:
Eyes that are exposed to too much radiation suffer from snow blindness. If you stare at snow too long, it may harm your eyes since it reflects most of the light that hits it and absorbs just about a quarter of it. Snow Blindness is a severe injury that may be avoided simply by using protective eyewear.
Remember to take sunglasses and not lose or damage them while hiking. If you are not carrying dark sunglasses, it will be preferable for you to reduce your exposure to the snow and stay inside. You might also try hiding behind some cotton curtains, although they won’t be as effective.
Symptoms of Snow Blindness include eye discomfort, burning eyes, wet eyes, blurry eyes, and more. When experiencing possible snow blindness, avoid rubbing your eyes. You may get the same effect by placing a moist towel over your closed eyes.
Sprains:
Are you familiar with Murphy’s Law? An American engineer called Edward A. Murphy conducted several high-speed rocket tests in the 1950s. After many unsuccessful trials, he concluded, “Anything can go wrong, and it will.”
The association between your legs and sprains is similar. We sprain when our tendons or other muscular support structures are overstretched or torn. A sprain occurs when an individual’s natural joint position is disrupted due to an external force, such as a fall, an abrupt twist, or a blow to the body.
Remember the word “RICE,” which we think we can all agree is a favorite. The only thing that will help a sprain is ‘Rice’ and nothing else. To minimize inflammation, rest, administer ice or another cold treatment, bandage the injured area, and raise it above heart level.
Hypothermia:
Medically speaking, hypothermia is a state of dangerously low body temperature brought on by the loss of heat at a quicker rate than the body can produce it. Hypothermia is a relatively common problem for hikers. Although mild hypothermia is tolerable, it poses a threat because of its potential for rapid deterioration.
Shock, if untreated, is potentially deadly. Learning to recognize and avoid hypothermia is essential. Shivering, a sluggish heart rate, trouble breathing, and other symptoms are all signs of hypothermia.
Preventing hypothermia requires dressing with many layers, drinking enough fluids, and taking frequent breaks within shelters.
Consider moving to a warmer environment, wrap the patient with additional blankets to keep them warm, and give them warm beverages while avoiding coffee. Don’t hesitate to start CPR and get medical treatment if the patient is unconscious
Chafing:
The skin’s reaction to inappropriate clothing or shopping is chafing. Most of the time, the cause is direct skin-on-clothes contact. This rubbing may irritate the skin if not addressed, leading to rashes, blisters, or raw skin. Severe chafing may be exceedingly unpleasant, making movements difficult.
Chafing may happen with just about any exercise that entails repeated motion. Still, it is more frequent during long-distance running and cycling. Clothing that doesn’t fit properly or that doesn’t wick sweat, humidity, or moisture might be a contributing factor in chafing.
Early diagnosis is crucial, just as it is with foot blisters. Stop and inspect the area when you detect a hot spot there. Take prompt action if the skin is red and inflamed.
After gently washing and drying the afflicted region, apply some petroleum jelly. Wrap the area and ensure it doesn’t brush against your skin or clothing especially if it hurts while hiking. If the condition worsens, medical action might be essential
Heat Stroke:
Intense physical activity or prolonged exposure to high environmental temperatures may lead to heatstroke. Heat stroke is one of the most harmful components of hiking, especially in hotter locations.
While most trekkers will notice the indicators of heat stroke, including nausea, exhaustion, headache, and fast pulse, and seek medical assistance or treat themselves, this is not always the case.
Many factors, including dehydration and overheating, can lead to heat stroke. Nonetheless, there are precautions you may take. Light, loose-fitting clothing, keeping hydrated, using sunscreen, and taking frequent breaks can all help prevent this.
As quickly as possible, move the patient to a calm, shaded area and treat them with some cold water to drink and sprinkle. Take off any constricting clothes and use a fan to help bring the temperature down. Use ice packs not just on the neck and underarms to relieve pain. If things aren’t getting better, contact a medical emergency service immediately.
Blisters:
Blisters would undoubtedly win the distinction of the most prevalent hiking wound. Friction between your skin and poorly fitted socks is the root cause of these unpleasant tiny sacs.
Your feet should have room to move around in your shoes without rubbing. Don’t allow your sock to slide up and down when you walk. Always ensure your feet are dry before putting on shoes, and always have at least a few extra pairs of socks handy.
If you have a sterilized needle in your first aid kit, excellent; else, preheat the tip of your knife until it is red. Crack the blister and let the fluid out. Use a disinfectant, bandage, or band aid to seal the wound and prevent infection.
Chilblains:
Chilblains are itchy, with burning bumps on the skin. They are red/blue in hue and originate due to a rapid temperature fluctuation. The most common underlying cause is cold—blood arteries near the skin’s surface contract when it becomes hard and dilates when heat exposure.
Suppose the change from cold to warm temperatures is quick. In that case, blood from the arteries seeps into the surrounding tissues, resulting in Chilblains.
Wearing the proper footwear and socks may help avoid chilblains, as can eating hot meals and touching your chilled body parts to increase blood flow and adapting to temperature fluctuations.
If chilblains are not irritated, they tend to heal by themselves within a week or two. A common remedy for itching is calamine lotion. Using a cream with 1% hydrocortisone may be pretty comforting if the skin is not injured.
Muscle Cramps:
It is considered that there are three primary reasons why a person would have leg cramps; exhaustion from pushing oneself too hard, dehydration, or an imbalance of electrolytes, especially during the warmer months when you need to restore the salts that your body loses via sweat.
Muscle cramps may occur in the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, or anywhere else in the body. Inexperienced hikers with leg cramps usually have done too much too soon and overworked their muscles during a long trip.
Instead of nursing a severe cramp, you should gradually build up to your desired level of exertion to allow your muscles to adapt to trekking and strengthen your legs via regular activity. If you have cramping, it is recommended that you rest the affected muscle, drink lots of water, and massage the area to relieve the stress.
Back Pain:
Let’s be honest: hiking is challenging and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Many trekkers, even the experts, have encountered back pain on treks, and if left untreated, it may worsen over time.
Pain in the back may range from mild aching to severe, stabbing pain. The pain might also go down your leg or worsen when you move your knee, stand up straight, or take a step. Incorrectly lifting your backpack, not getting enough exercise, and so on are all causes to back pain.
You should carry trekking poles to assist with balance and posture, improve your back strength, and wear a pack with waist and cross-back straps to distribute your weight more evenly.
Take anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen or aspirin, massage the tender areas with your knuckles, and try specific stretches to help ease the discomfort.
Additional Resources
If you are looking for more tutorials, walkthroughs and troubleshooting about camping and enjoying the outdoors, here are some additional posts to check out:
Conclusion:
When planning a trip, we look deeper into the gear we’ll bring, the route we’ll take, and the destinations we’ll visit. Still, we seldom consider what we’ll do in the event of an injury or sickness.
Typical injuries may not seem like significant concerns while at home or in town, but they may ruin your trip if they happen while you’re on an adventure. To avoid having your adventure ruined by unexpected challenges, it’s essential to be well-informed and well-prepared. Don’t stress; instead, educate yourself with knowledge and then have some fun. Thanks for reading, If you think I forgot something or if you simply want to share a story or some advice, feel free to leave a comment below. Be Safe And Happy Adventure.!