Are you planning to do any hiking during this RV season? If so, there are several things you need to be aware of including the dangers of crossing rivers or lakes. Even though water may look still, it could have strong currents. You also never know when shallow waters could drop off.
If you find yourself needing or wanting to cross a stream or river, be sure to remember the following:
- If you can avoid river wading and especially swimming then do so! If there is a bridge one mile along the river then detour and take the bridge. Safety always comes first!
- In general, you should try to remain calm when anything happens to you and you end up in the water. Frantic swimming will get you tired quickly. Try to remain calm and float as you assess your situation and try to come up with a solution.
- Should you be swept away when crossing a river and the river is filled with obstacles like rocks and logs, the safest position is to float on your back with your legs in front of you to absorb any bumps while using your arms to push away obstacles and steer.
- Should a teammate fall into the water, try using rope or sticks and make an effort to get him/her back to shore. Keep the rope flexible and do not tie it to a tree or other obstacle. A strong current might drag the victim under with no slack to submerge again.
Hiking is a wonderful part of the RV lifestyle, but it an easily go wrong. This is why it’s important to know your surroundings and how to handle potential dangerous situations. Stick around for the top 10 things you need to carry on all of your hiking trips! Happy camping, Minnesota RVers!
