Hiking with Kids: Survival Kit List for them (and adults)
Hiking with Kids: Survival Kit List for them and adults
Children can hike safely. It is suggested they like adults, need a survival kit to put in their daypack, know a few rules and some instruction. Children love to carry stuff anyway - all kinds of stuff - so the small kit will be fun to put together and practice to use. Main thing: talk/explain its use over with them in detail.
Everyone needs to consider the amount of time in the woods they will be hiking, the time of year and the weather conditions for dressing to hike. One of the main things is always plan hikes with enough light to get off a trail BEFORE dark (especially in winter when the temperature drops suddenly at dark.)
A KIDS (and adult) survival kit needs the basics in case they get separated and need to be rescued. The right stuff will keep them in good shape and will get help to them faster. Every child (and adults) needs to carry a whistle (teach if you don’t see your child you are going to blow your whistle once and they need respond with one toot.)
Here is what parents need to teach children BEFORE a hike: Stay with the group/family. Georgia State Park rules say adults must keep all minors with them within sight and voice contact at all times.
It a proven fact: Children survive better than adults when lost in the woods as when lost.. they stay put. Teach them to be calm and rest. Teach them to find a tree to make a “nest” by raking leaves or pine straw together and to let help come to them. STAY by the trail if lost on the trail. Sit still if off the trail and not wander around (one can become further off the trail doing this and possibly fall and get hurt.)
Here is what to do when lost (adults and children):
Note to parents: if a child is lost, you too stay put and let help come to you to find your child. If you have something of the child's belongings in the car for search dogs to get a scent of, let the park rangers know that.
The main thing is in an any emergency on the Pine Mountain Trail, contact the FDR State Park rangers/managers first. Let the rangers come to you (with the appropriate county EMT team if medical help is needed.) If you just call 911 from a cell phone, you may not reach a 911 center that knows about the Pine Mountain Trail, so having/calling the park number is very important. FDR State Park is located in Harris and Meriwether Counties.
Children can hike safely. It is suggested they like adults, need a survival kit to put in their daypack, know a few rules and some instruction. Children love to carry stuff anyway - all kinds of stuff - so the small kit will be fun to put together and practice to use. Main thing: talk/explain its use over with them in detail.
Everyone needs to consider the amount of time in the woods they will be hiking, the time of year and the weather conditions for dressing to hike. One of the main things is always plan hikes with enough light to get off a trail BEFORE dark (especially in winter when the temperature drops suddenly at dark.)
A KIDS (and adult) survival kit needs the basics in case they get separated and need to be rescued. The right stuff will keep them in good shape and will get help to them faster. Every child (and adults) needs to carry a whistle (teach if you don’t see your child you are going to blow your whistle once and they need respond with one toot.)
Here is what parents need to teach children BEFORE a hike: Stay with the group/family. Georgia State Park rules say adults must keep all minors with them within sight and voice contact at all times.
- Learn what trail markers look like (blazes), which color for a trail and watch for them.
- Take a trail map and study it before you head out.
- Stay on the trail. When backpacking, stay within sight of camp.
- Dress your children in bright colors.
- Children need to keep the survival pack in their daypack at all times.
- Teach how to use a cell phone. This could help if you are injured. Show children on the back of the PMT trail map the FDR State Park emergency numbers and tell why they should NOT call 911 first.
- What to include in the KIDS and adult survival kit :
- Emergency snack in addition to the planned snack. Examples: Power Bar, granola bar, snack size peanut butter crackers. Small package of dry Gatorade or similar drink.
- Water bottle (most day packs have a pouch on outside for one but need an extra.)
- Red bandana
- Large yard-type plastic bag or orange disposable plastic poncho.
- As for whistle: A LOUD whistle (suggested is STORM brand) This should be on your child at all times while hiking actually (Ie: on a break- away necklace or clipped to outside of daypack.)
- Small LED flashlight, preferably with flashing mode (and red light.)
- Chemical light stick (these are available at most $dollar stores.)
- Aluminum foil, about 18 inches square.
- Disposable foil space blanket.
- 4" piece of 3-M marine reflective tape.
- For older children, a plastic container of matches and fire starter or a lighter and small pocket knife.
- Small first aid kit.
- 25 feet of nylon cord.
- Small first aid kit (containing basics like: band-aids, first aid cream, hand sanitizer, a new sealed small Nasal saline spray (for washing out cuts or eyes.)
- Extra socks , wool preferred (which can double for gloves).
- Small roll of toilet paper in a Zipoc bag.
It a proven fact: Children survive better than adults when lost in the woods as when lost.. they stay put. Teach them to be calm and rest. Teach them to find a tree to make a “nest” by raking leaves or pine straw together and to let help come to them. STAY by the trail if lost on the trail. Sit still if off the trail and not wander around (one can become further off the trail doing this and possibly fall and get hurt.)
Here is what to do when lost (adults and children):
- Blow three loud toots on whistle, counting to 3 between each toot. Repeat. Then be quiet and listen for someone calling to them. If available, call the emergency numbers on cell phone. If no phone service, continue to blow the whistle every few minutes.
- Lay out orange poncho so it can be seen. Hang the red bandana on a small tree or bush along with the aluminum foil.
- If cold, make arm holes and a head hole in trash bag, then pull over like a poncho. If you have a space blanket, use that. Clear out a space on the ground and build a small fire (use toilet paper or a gauze pad from the first aid kit to start fire.)
- adding to it occasionally to keep it going as long as possible. During daylight hours, add green leaves to create smoke.
- At dark, eat half a candy bar and drink some, but not all, of your water. Add Gatorade if you have it. Hang the glowing light stick nearby. Hang the LED flashing light on the aluminum foil to reflect the red light. Put the reflective tape on a small limb. The flashlight also can be used to move about.
- If raining, use the nylon cord and the space blanket to make a shelter. Remember to stay put and let help come to you.
Note to parents: if a child is lost, you too stay put and let help come to you to find your child. If you have something of the child's belongings in the car for search dogs to get a scent of, let the park rangers know that.
The main thing is in an any emergency on the Pine Mountain Trail, contact the FDR State Park rangers/managers first. Let the rangers come to you (with the appropriate county EMT team if medical help is needed.) If you just call 911 from a cell phone, you may not reach a 911 center that knows about the Pine Mountain Trail, so having/calling the park number is very important. FDR State Park is located in Harris and Meriwether Counties.