[Stop that behavior!] A list of common bad habits you might be prone to while hiking or camping

Yasushi Hisatomi

7 years ago

There are many dangers outdoors. In such cases, remember this:

When it comes to outdoor activities like hiking and camping, there are surprisingly few places that are completely untouched by human hands. However, no matter how much human intervention there is, and no matter how well managed it is, as long as you are active in nature, humans cannot fully predict what will happen. Naturally, in nature, you ultimately have to protect yourself

This time, under the supervision of the Japan Gas and Petroleum Equipment Industry Association and with other reference materials, we have compiled a list of actions that people tend to do in the event of an emergency, but which are actually not safe, so that you can enjoy mountain climbing and other outdoor activities safely

Whether you're just starting out in the outdoors, or you've always thought you'd learn more about it, why not take this opportunity to check it out?

table of contents

Prohibited actions when using firearms
Things to avoid when choosing a tent or camping site
What not to do in an emergency while on the move
Summary and Supplementary Notes

Prohibited actions when using firearms

Cooking with your favorite camping gear and making hearty meals that can only be done in the mountains are some of the attractions of the outdoors. However, convenient fire equipment such as gas stoves are also tools that can lead to serious accidents if used incorrectly. Even though they are convenient, please use them with caution and avoid the dangerous uses listed below

Using a gas stove in a tent or indoors

When using gas appliances such as gas stoves and lanterns, the most important thing to be careful of is the risk of fires occurring in poorly ventilated rooms such as tents.Carbon monoxide poisoningAccidents occur all over Japan every year, not just outdoors. Everyone who uses gas appliances needs to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

When gas appliances are used in poorly ventilated places such as indoors or tents, the lack of oxygen causes incomplete combustion, producing carbon monoxide, which can be inhaled and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is "tasteless and odorless," and the initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are "headache, nausea, dizziness, decreased concentration, vomiting, drowsiness," which are generally similar to cold (flu) symptoms, making it difficult to notice and very troublesome. Depending on the concentration, the poisoning can progress to moderate or severe symptoms within a few minutes to a few tens of minutes, causing numbness in the limbs and loss of consciousness, making it impossible to move on one's own, and it will be too late to treat it

countermeasure

The key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning is to "avoid creating situations that could result in the production of carbon monoxide." Even if it's cold outside, you should never use gas appliances in tents, cars, or other enclosed spaces. If you experience any of the symptoms above and suspect something is wrong, be sure to move to a place with fresh air immediately

Use a deteriorated O-ring

The connection between the gas cartridge and the burner is fitted with a rubber ring-shaped gasket called an "O-ring" to prevent gas leakage. Because it is made of rubber, it can be damaged and deteriorates over time even when not in use

countermeasure

Especially at the beginning of the season, before lighting your stove, be sure to check that the O-ring is not frayed, cut, shrunk, or cracked. Then, connect the stove to the gas cartridge and check for leaks, damage, or debris or sand in the connection. It is recommended that
you replace the O-ring every 5 to 7 years. As it deteriorates, not only will the rubber show signs of wear such as cuts, splinters, and cracks, but the rubber itself will harden and shrink overall. Never replace the O-ring yourself; always follow the instructions of the manufacturer or retailer.

Keeping firearms in an unstable location

Using a gas stove on an incline or on unstable ground such as stones or gravel can be extremely dangerous as the appliance may tip over and suddenly burst into flames, or a pot placed on top of it may spill and cause serious burns

countermeasure

When using gas appliances, choose a flat, stable location

Do not leave the gas cartridge near a heat source or in a high temperature location

If a gas cartridge is heated abnormally, the pressure inside it may rise suddenly and cause it to explode

countermeasure

Be careful not to leave your laptop in places where it may become hot, such as near a gas stove or bonfire while cooking, or on a sandy beach, riverbank, or paved road under the blazing sun, or inside a car exposed to direct sunlight

Using two or more gas stoves side by side

If you use multiple gas stoves side by side in a small space, or heat one pot on two gas stoves, the heat from each stove and the radiant heat from the bottom of the pot can cause the gas cartridge to overheat and explode

countermeasure

Always heat one pot on one gas stove, and when using multiple stoves, always use them at a distance from each other.Two-burner stoves are safe to use because the heat source, pot, and gas cartridge are safely separated

Surround the entire gas stove with a windshield or similar

When the wind is strong, you can use a windshield to block the wind. While there is nothing wrong with doing so, if you enclose the entire unit too much, heat will accumulate inside the windshield, which can cause the gas cartridge to overheat and explode

countermeasure

The method of using a windshield varies depending on the manufacturer, so be sure to check the manufacturer's precautions when using one

Things to avoid when choosing a tent or camping site

Although tent sites are generally referred to as such, the types of dangers vary depending on the terrain, from the foot of a mountain, mid-mountain, on a ridge, along a river or stream, or on a lake or the sea. Managed campsites also have different characteristics, such as the facilities (toilets, showers, cooking) and fees. While there are no absolute rules for pitching a tent in all cases, we will introduce some cases where you should be careful when pitching a tent in certain locations under certain conditions

Pitching a tent in a windswept area or on a hill

It's incredibly pleasant to pitch a tent in a spacious location, such as in the middle of a wide field or on a small hill, but you need to be careful from a safety standpoint. If you pitch a tent in an exposed location, which is easily affected by wind, there is a risk that even a slight gust of wind could easily blow the tent away

countermeasure

For safety reasons, it is better to pitch your tent in a place that is less susceptible to wind and rain, such as in a forest, but no matter where you pitch it, be sure to take proper measures to protect it from the wind using pegs and ropes.If you are at a campsite that allows cars, you can also use a car parked upwind as a windbreak

pitching a tent in a poorly drained area

Rain can suddenly start falling in the mountains. Often the amount of rain is greater than you would expect, and the ground quickly becomes soggy. If your tent is pitched in a poorly drained location, such as a depression or in soil that doesn't absorb water easily, not only will puddles form around it, which can be a nuisance, but in the worst case scenario, water could even seep into the tent

countermeasure

When setting up your tent, choose a location that is as flat as possible, has no traces of water flowing, and has good drainage.It is also effective to take measures such as placing a tarp over the tent or laying a ground sheet underneath the tent

Pitching a tent on a steep slope or near a cliff

In normal campsites or designated tent areas, tent sites are unlikely to be located near dangerous cliffs, but even if they do not appear to be cliffs, you should still take precautions when pitching your tent near a steep slope. If something happens higher up the slope, such as after a period of bad weather that loosens the ground, there is a risk of falling rocks

countermeasure

It is best to avoid placing them near slopes if possible, but if you do have to place them next to a slope, try to place them as far away as possible

pitch a tent next to a large tree

If open fields are vulnerable to strong winds, wouldn't it be safer to sit under a tree, since it's more comfortable and provides shade and some protection from the wind? In a sense, this is not wrong, but there is still one thing you need to be careful of: lightning

Lightning tends to strike high places, so the larger the tree, the greater the chance of it being struck. If lightning strikes a tree next to your tent, you run the risk of being struck by lightning

countermeasure

If you are pitching a tent next to a tree that is likely to be at high risk of lightning strikes, camp far enough away from the tree that you won't have to worry about being struck by a side strike. In fact, it's dangerous to be inside a tent if lightning strikes. It's important to be aware of the risk of lightning in advance and evacuate to a safe place with lightning protection, such as a mountain hut, as quickly as possible. If there is no mountain hut or other building available, if possible, find a tree that is at least 5m tall, and stay low so that you can look up at the top of the tree at an angle of 45 degrees or more, and if possible, stay about 4m away from the tree

Pitching a tent on the riverbank or sandbar

Every year, unfortunate accidents occur in which people who had just been enjoying camping are left stranded on sandbars by sudden flooding. When there is heavy rain upstream, the rising water level downstream rises rapidly, and tents near the river can easily be swallowed up

countermeasure

Do not pitch a tent next to a riverbank or on a sandbar. Even if the area is completely dry at the time, the water level can rise quickly when it rains in the mountains, so you should never pitch a tent on a riverbank or sandbar

What not to do in an emergency while on the move

When you get lost, you just walk blindly down the mountain

When climbing mountains, even experienced climbers often stray from the trail due to carelessness. Ideally, you can quickly get back on track, but in the worst case scenario, you might get lost and not even know where you came from. In such a situation, the worst thing you can do is to head down the mountain without knowing where you are, just because you want to get down quickly. When you head down the mountain mindlessly, aiming for a place that looks easy to walk on, you will most likely end up in a stream. There, a waterfall awaits you, and you could end up in an even more difficult situation, such as slipping or becoming unable to move

countermeasure

First, calm yourself down and figure out where you are. If you know the path you came from, retrace your steps to the correct course. If for any reason you are unable to determine where you are or the path you came from, do not go down, but move to a higher place such as a ridge where you can determine your current location. Even if you still cannot determine your current location and are unable to return to the hiking trail, do not panic and move around. Especially once the sun has set and it is dark, you will have a higher chance of survival if you bivouac and act calmly while conserving your energy rather than moving around blindly

If you come across a bear, turn your back and run away as fast as you can

Bears are not creatures that actively attack people. However, if a bear suddenly encounters a human and becomes excited, or if it is on guard in some way, it will attack out of a self-defense instinct. For this reason, if you encounter a bear, you should not carelessly intimidate or excite it. One thing you should never do if you suddenly come face to face with a bear is to turn your back on it and run away. In the first place, it is almost impossible for a human to escape, and if you run at full speed down a mountain path in a panic, you will most likely fall, and bears have a habit of chasing fleeing things, so it is actually more dangerous

countermeasure

The best thing to do is to avoid encountering a bear. Even if you do spot one, there's no need to worry as long as you're far enough away. Move away slowly and quietly without making any noise. If you do make eye contact with a bear, immediately stop moving and face the bear head-on. Bears have excellent dynamic vision, especially when it comes to detecting lateral movements, so don't move sideways; instead, quietly back away and create distance. If you are attacked, cover your neck with both hands and lie face down on the ground, protecting your abdomen. Do not resist, even if attacked. When mountaineer Yasushi Yamanoi was attacked by a bear in Okutama in 2008, the bear bit his nose and refused to let go, creating a momentary opening for him to stop resisting, narrowly escaping death. Bear repellent spray can also be effective, but it's not a panacea

In the case of a snake bite, suck out the venom, cool the area, or stop the blood flow

There are three types of venomous snakes that live in Japan: the Mamushi snake, the Yamakagashi snake, and the Habu snake. With the exception of the Habu snake, which lives on the Amami and Okinawa Islands, the Mamushi snake and the Yamakagashi snake will rarely attack unless you make a move, so proceed with caution when walking through grass or thickets. If you are still bitten, what you should not do (and there is no point in doing so) is to try to suck out the venom with your mouth or to cool the affected area to reduce swelling

countermeasure

Avoid increasing your blood circulation more than necessary by rushing, running, or drinking alcohol, and go to the hospital as soon as possible to receive treatment. It is said that death from viper venom is not that common, so if you are bitten, do not panic. Note that it may not be possible to determine whether a snake is poisonous from the bite mark alone, so try to remember the appearance of the snake that bit you as much as possible (and take a photo if possible)

When a wasp stings you, it sucks out the venom with its mouth

Based on past experience, hornets are arguably the most troublesome creatures encountered outdoors, due to their frequency of appearance and difficulty in avoiding them. Approximately 20 people are killed each year by them. They will attack if you accidentally get too close to their nest. They have a habit of heading for black objects, so be careful about what you wear when entering the mountains. If you are stung, be careful not to stay where you are, as they may call upon their comrades and sting you again. First, stay calm and gently move away from the area. When dealing with a wound, one thing you should never do is try to suck out the venom with your mouth. It may sound cool, but sucking with your mouth won't remove the venom, and it could be dangerous as the venom could be absorbed through a wound inside the mouth

countermeasure

Rinse the area stung by a hornet thoroughly with running water. Then, apply pressure around the wound to squeeze out the venom. Apply an antihistamine or steroid ointment, cool the area with an ice pack, and seek medical treatment immediately. If symptoms such as rash, nausea, and difficulty breathing (anaphylactic shock) appear within a few minutes of being stung, seek medical attention immediately, as this can be life-threatening in the worst case scenario

When a leech bites your blood, try to forcefully remove it

Leeches are terrestrial leeches found throughout Japan except Hokkaido. I've encountered them in Nishitanzawa and Iriomote Island. They seem to get in no matter how carefully you dress, so caution is advised when walking in humid weather or along streams. They get into clothes and shoes, attach themselves to them, and continue to suck blood. They don't hurt and aren't directly life-threatening, but the appearance of the leech itself and the fact that it continues to bleed even after you let go make them extremely visually disgusting. If you're unlucky enough to be bitten, you'll want to pull them off as quickly as possible, even if you try to pull forcefully, but this could actually make the wound worse

countermeasure

The leeches will naturally leave the wound if you burn them with a lighter or pour rubbing alcohol, salt, vinegar, etc. After that, squeeze the blood out of the wound to expel the anesthetic and blood-clotting inhibitors injected by the leech from the body, wash the wound with running water, apply antihistamine ointment, and apply pressure with a bandage to stop the bleeding

In any case, being bitten by leeches is still a nuisance, so it's important to make an effort to keep them away in the first place. Recently, leech repellent sprays have become available on the market, so we recommend spraying them on thoroughly when entering areas where leeches are found

Summary and Supplementary Notes

In addition to the above, there are many other unexpected dangers that may go unnoticed when hiking or camping, such as heatstroke, altitude sickness, snow blindness, external injuries such as fractures, ticks, and plants. The countermeasures introduced here are only a part of a comprehensive range of measures that also include preventative measures. To gain sufficient knowledge and mental preparation, we highly recommend studying a comprehensive book that covers all the information. Why not take this opportunity to review your knowledge and preparations for safe mountain climbing?

Supervised by: Japan Gas and Kerosene Equipment Industry Association