Walking (Safely) on the Wild Side

When heading out for a family hike, picnic or camping expedition, keep these tips in mind:

• Bring a first-aid kit stocked with sunscreen and insect repellent; fever medication; bandages, gauze dressings, adhesive tape and ointment; tweezers; safety pins; a small flashlight; a cell phone, pre-paid phone or calling cards and/or change for telephone calls; and a pencil and small notebook.
• Keep children in sight at all times during outings. If you're going to a remote area, let someone know where you'll be.
• Take measures to reduce the chance of insect bites and stings (see above).
• Teach your child to recognize and avoid poison ivy. Remember, "leaves of three, let them be." Poison ivy has three pointy leaves that are glossy green (or red in the fall). Most poison ivy is found at the edges of woods, roads and waterways, or under telephone wires and around trees. In case of exposure, wash the skin and under the fingernails within 10 minutes of contact. Also, wash anything that may have come in contact with the plant.
• Watch out for poisonous plants. Teach your child not to taste berries, wild mushrooms, roots or leaves.
• Prevent food poisoning. Keep meats, poultry and frozen foods cold. Wash your hands well after handling them and before you touch other foods. Cook foods completely, and don't let them sit out for more than a brief time in warm weather.
• Beware of lightning. If there is threat of an electrical storm, take shelter in a building, an enclosed car or in thick woods. If there is no shelter, teach your child to crouch in a low-lying area and make as little contact with the ground as possible. Avoid open fields, isolated trees, parking lots, water and metal objects during electrical storms.

Picnics, Bees and Allergic Reactions Go Together
Taking a group of kids on a picnic? Make sure you know if any of them has a known allergy and that you know what to do if a child (or an adult) develops a severe allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions are most often triggered by foods and food additives and can happen throughout the year, but spending time outdoors may mean exposure to bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants whose venom can trigger a severe allergic reaction - or anaphylaxis - in up to 4 percent of the U.S. population.

Anaphylaxis involves the entire body and can affect any of its systems. Symptoms vary widely - from vomiting to severe headache or swelling to itchy throat and eyes - so it's important to learn to recognize them and respond quickly. Anaphylaxis can result in difficult breathing, loss of consciousness and even death if not immediately treated.

If you, your child or someone else in your party has a known allergy, be sure to carry a self-injectable epinephrine (adrenalin) shot, if prescribed, even on short expeditions.

If a member of your party begins experiencing severe allergy symptoms, call for medical help or go to an emergency room. The sooner the reaction is treated, the less severe it will be. Even if the patient has received immediate medical treatment on site, he or she should be transported to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

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