No matter how safe you are, accidents happen while hiking. You are likely out in the wilderness and that’s where animals live! The odds you run into an animal are likely – getting attacked is less likely but you need to be prepared if you are injured by an animal.
If you are bitten by an animal on thing you don’t know is if they are rabid or not. You really can’t afford to take chances with this type of injury. First thing to do if you are bitten is to clean out the wound as best as you can. Hopefully you packed some first-aid materials and can clean the wound with alcohol wipes, or iodine – if nothing else soap and water thoroughly. Next thing to do is to seek medical attention. Don’t wait, leave the hike and get the bite looked at!
Rabies are one thing to be concerned about for sure from animals, but other bites can leave you in a world of pain. Snake bites can be painful and sometimes deadly. If you are hiking in an area known to have poisonous snakes, you’ll want to take the necessary precautions. Read up on the “do’s and don’ts of snake bites“!