Wilderness and Water Safety

1. Outdoor Preparation and Safety

2. Lesson Objective
Develop skills and
knowledge to prepare
for basic needs in an
outdoor environment

3. ● Water
● Food
● Backpack
● Appropriate clothing
● First Aid Kit
● Check the weather
● Tell someone exactly where and when I am going
What would you pack to go on a long hike?

4. Your Body Needs Water
● Bring your own water do not
depend on other people
● Use appropriate containers
● Lifestraw
● Leave No Trace
Boys and girls should drink
about 11 to 15 cups a day.

5. Food
Hiking long distances can be
exhausting
Bring Fuel!
● Dried fruit
● Nuts
● Energy bar
● Jerky
● Sandwich
Leave No Trace! Pack out your
trash!

6. Appropriate Clothing
What To Wear Hiking List:
● No denim jeans or cotton tees
● Polyester, nylon or merino wool tops
● Comfortable yet sturdy pants
● Warm jacket
● Rain jacket
● Brimmed hat
● Sturdy shoes
● Sunglasses

7. Backpacks
For short treks on trails that are
close to home and on days with
pleasant weather, a daypack
with a capacity of about 15–20
liters provides enough space for
water, a few snacks and a
lightweight clothing layer.

8. First Aid Kits
Before each and every hike, sit
down and evaluate the length
and nature of your trip. Go
through all the items in your
first-aid kit and ask yourself
three questions:
1. Do I really need this?
2. What could happen if I don’t
have it?
3. Is there something missing?

10. Weather or Not
Regardless of the season
check the weather!
This allows you to put the
right HIKING CLOTHES
into your pack, as well as
any other gear you may
need, and ultimately
makes for a much better
hiking experience.

11. Tell Someone Before You Go
● Tell someone where you are
going, the trails you are
hiking, who you are with and
when you plan on returning.
● A simple text or call.
● On longer hikes even more
information will be useful to
give before setting out.

12. Your Turn: Planning for your next adventure
You are going to hike Hogback Mountain this weekend with some friends. The
forecast shows a chance of light rain. Your weather app says the temperature will
be 45 degrees. What are you going to bring with you to have a safe and fun hike?
1. What are you going to wear/pack for the weather?
2. What will you bring to eat? How much water?
3. What did you pack in your first aid kit?
4. Who and how will you let someone know your whereabouts and planned
duration of the hike?

13. Water Safety
Lesson Objective:
Understand basic water
safety and how to recognize
and escape a rip current.

14. Places We Swim And the Dangers
● Swimming Pools
○ Shallow water
○ Objects
● Lakes
○ Rips
○ Bacteria
● Rivers
○ Rips
○ Debris
● Ocean
○ Rips
○ Animals
● Water:
○ Drowning

15. World Health Organization

16. Incidents by Ability in Lake Michigan (2018)

17. Incidents by Location

18. Incidents by Year

22. CAN YOU SPOT THE RIP?

27. HOW TO GET OUT OF A RIP?
● Let it take you out
○ Don’t waste your energy
● When it starts to weaken, Swim to the side
○ Swim horizontal to shore line
○ Don’t try fight the rip!
● When you get out of the rip, swim to shore

28. How do you Know if the
Water is Safe Swim in?
● Beach flags!!
● Drowning prevention

29. What can we do to stay safe in the water?
● Keep an eye on the water conditions
● Notice the lifeguards beach flag and what it represents
● Identify safe swimming areas
● Prevent drowning by being prepared

31. Blackrocks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaIuK5mzImI&ab_channel=JerryMill
s

32. Little Presque Isle

33. Please be careful and use good judgment!
How are you going to use this info?
Would you be able to identify a rip current?
Could you explain how to escape a rip current to a friend?