They should be taught to stay put if they get lost, and to respond to calls and voices if they have been trained to be wary of strangers. When walking on a trail, never let children out of your sight, cautions Diekema. Although only a few attacks are reported every year, cougars are a very present danger in the western wilderness. They tend to target individuals, especially small ones, and it only takes a few seconds for a cougar to pull a child off the trail. Crystal clear mountain streams may appear to be the perfect cooler, but theyre often polluted with giarda, a parasite from animalfecal matter, that can cause serious diarrhea and vomiting.
Exposure is another easily preventable risk.
Even if you're only going out for an hour, bring a kit that includes extra food, water and clothing so that you're prepared in the event of an unexpected injury or night in the wilderness.