The summer hiking season is in full swing. We take safety seriously during our trips, so before every itinerary the team leader conducts a mountain safety briefing and monitors compliance.
It’s worth reminding you of the main measures and rules of conduct for a successful summer journey — for this, our team leader Ivan Kucheriavyi, who has 14 years of experience as an instructor at the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MNS) training center for firefighter–rescuers, has collected all the necessary and important information for you in this article.
Probably the most dangerous natural phenomenon in terms of consequences is a thunderstorm. Almost every year in the Carpathians people die from lightning strikes, so you must take this seriously. There are many myths about what to do during a storm, but many have not been scientifically confirmed.
So, the basic rules that will help protect you from lightning:
In the mountains, heat and physical exertion accelerate dehydration and the risk of burns or heat stroke, so sun protection must be as mandatory as reliable gear. The main sun-related problems are sunburn and heat stroke.
To prevent burns, wear light-colored long-sleeved clothing and pants; cover your head and neck.
A sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum (look for UVA and UVB on the label), will help. (SPF is the degree of protection against ultraviolet radiation.)
Apply it approximately every 3 hours. But don’t overdo it: if you are walking in the shade, you don’t need to apply cream.
What to do if sunburn happens despite prevention? Rinse the skin with cool clean water, apply wet compresses, and drink plenty of fluids. After a few hours, you can use dexpanthenol-based gels (Bepanthen, Pantestin) or moisturizing lotions.
Important: avoid oil-based products, as they hinder the removal of excess heat from the skin. Do not use alcohol, soap, or other aggressive substances that can damage or dry out the skin.
With prolonged exposure to the sun in conditions of high temperature and humidity, heat stroke can occur. This is a complex problem characterized by disruption of many body functions (thermoregulation, water–salt balance) and leads to weakness, elevated body temperature, nausea, and headache.
To prevent heat stroke, you should:
If heat stroke does occur, recommended aid includes cool drinks with isotonic solutions, moving the casualty into the shade, and cooling with water and compresses. Place cold compresses under the armpits, in the groin, and on the head and neck.
Strictly speaking, a tick is not an insect but a small relative of spiders (it belongs to the class Arachnida). We mention it here because in summer in the mountains and forests ticks most often threaten hikers: they attach to the skin and can carry borreliosis and other diseases. Therefore, tick protection rules are a required part of any “summer safety” checklist.
Ticks are widespread in almost all of Ukraine. In the Carpathians they are practically not encountered in coniferous forest zones; the risk exists at lower elevations closer to Zakarpattia. They live in forest litter and grass and get onto the human body by crawling from the bottom up. In areas where there is a threat, to protect yourself from ticks you should sit on the ground less, use special agents (tick-repellent spray), and tuck in your clothing.
The actual “screwing in” process is painless, but after 12–24 hours a small redness and inflammation may appear. They are often found by accident.
The actual “screwing in” process is painless, but after 12–24 hours a small redness and inflammation may appear. They are often found by accident.
The bite itself is not dangerous, but a tick can transmit serious diseases — encephalitis and borreliosis.
In the city, a doctor at a trauma center can remove the tick, and on a hike you can do it yourself or ask a companion. There are many methods, but the best is to remove the tick with a special tweezers or hook. Grasp it as close to the skin as possible and gently twist while holding it perpendicular to the skin. The main thing is not to squeeze it and not to tear the body from the head: if the head remains in the skin, it can lead to suppuration. After removal, treat the bite with alcohol and apply a bandage/plaster. For 2–3 weeks, watch whether a ring-shaped erythema appears at the bite site and whether there is any general deterioration in well-being or fever.
For hikers in the Carpathians, a more real problem than ticks is blackflies and mosquitoes. They are especially active in June–July in the evening. Repellents, closed clothing, and campfire smoke help against blackflies. You can use a mosquito net for the face; it’s convenient to wear it over a sun hat or a baseball cap.
Seeing a wild animal on a popular tourist route in the Carpathians is very rare, and the risk of an attack on a person is very low. Greater danger can come from domestic animals: shepherd dogs, bulls, and horses.
To prevent an attack, follow simple rules:
In most cases, hikes take place in mountainous terrain, movement in which can be hazardous. Loose (“live”) rocks, slippery surfaces, tree roots hidden in grass, sharp branches, and much more. Bruises, ligament tears, and fractures are not that common, but they do occur. Given the remoteness from roads, settlements, and medical facilities, this can cause serious problems.
To reduce the risk of injury, you should:
And probably the main safety rule while moving is this: do not break away from the group, do not run ahead, and do not fall behind.
In the Ukrainian Carpathians on most routes there are no problems with water; it is encountered relatively often. Nonetheless, you should analyze the route and carry the necessary supply of water.
At the end of summer and in autumn, when there is less precipitation, some springs can dry up. On Kuluar hikes the team leader monitors these issues.
When choosing a source, focus on the following indicators:
When there are doubts about water quality, boil it for 10–15 minutes — this will destroy most types of bacteria. You can also use special filters or purification tablets sold in outdoor stores.
In summer, due to the heat, food can spoil and the risk of poisoning increases. Therefore, choose first of all those foods that do not require temperature control and have a long shelf life.
The best are dry, heat-treated, well-salted or sweet foods. They keep for a long time:
As a light and quite convenient option — dried or freeze-dried foods. There are quite a few good Ukrainian producers on the market now with a fairly wide range of dishes and flavors.
Be attentive and responsible, follow simple rules — and your hike will leave good memories.
And if it’s the mountains, then with Kuluar!