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	Injury on the Trail

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A trash bag makes a good emergency coat if you should happen to get injured on a run and have to walk or worse, stay put for a while. It may not be much but it will retain some of your heat and protect you from wind and rain, so it’s better than nothing.

If you happen to get bitten by a venomous snake do not try to suck the venom out, cut the wound, apply a tourniquet, ice it or take any anti-inflammatory drugs. All of these complicate the problem and can lead to increased tissue damage and loss of the limb. Frequently a snake will not inject venom. If you feel a burning pain at the bite site and swelling starts then you probably got envenomated. If possible you need to get to a hospital within 30 minutes.

Take a photo of the snake or kill it and bring it with you for identification purposes.

Don't panic - that will only cause more problems to occur faster. This will give you a lower heart rate and help you think more clearly and make wiser decisions.

Remove any tight fitting jewelry and clothes.

If you can take a photo of the bite area or mark how far the swelling has progressed every 15 minutes, that will help the medical team.

How you respond to get from the trail to a hospital depends on how far you are away from help and if others can assist you. To limit the spread of the venom to the rest of your body, you want to keep your heart rate as low as possible and keep the bitten area below your heart. You want to get to a hospital soon in case you need anti-venom. The sooner the better, but understand that only a few of the thousands of people bitten each year will die from it. It takes a couple of hours for the venom to move through your body and do its damage.

Try to figure out where you are to assist crews trying to locate you. Note GPS location, nearby landmarks, trail intersections, or trail markers.

Think carefully about how to get to help the fastest or get help to you the fastest. Be calm and make a smart decision, a wrong decision may have bad consequences. Is your best option staying put? Or would it be better for you to go back to where you started (maybe where your car is parked), continue on to your destination or to an intermediate location that may be closer or easier to get to?

It would be a good idea before your start to know the location of hospital(s) closest to the trail. Alert the hospital as soon as possible that you are coming so they can be ready for you with the anti-venom.

Consider your options in this order:

1. Call 911 or a park ranger and let them come to you. Keep the bite area below your heart if possible to limit blood flow to the area.
2. Let a friend go for help. This may be necessary if you don't have cell phone coverage. It's best if you are not left alone, but that may not be an option.
3. Have friends help you get out by carrying you or assisting you.
4. Hike out by yourself - don't run because you want to keep your heart rate low. What are the chances that someone will be coming along the trial who could help you?

It's always best to carry a cell phone and take along at least one friend.

There are a number of smart phone apps that allow family and friends to track your location. This is helpful in meeting up with others to start a run, finding each other if you get separated during a run, knowing when and/or where to meet up after a run or race, and tracking progress during a race. They may also be helpful to let others know that you are stopped and maybe in need of assistance (some apps provide for an emergency notification) or that you are taking a different path and may be arriving later.

When considering getting out of the wilderness to a hospital where your injury can be taken care of, consider the following things.

• Will you hurt yourself more by getting out on your own or with a friend's assistance?
• How likely is it that someone will find you?
• How likely/difficult will it be for help to get to you?
• Would delaying treatment put you at greater risk either from your injury (alergic reaction, loss of blood), bad weather, or animals?

But what should you do if you are out alone and something happens? Consider some of your options below. You'll have to decide which is best for you in your situation. Make your decision carefully because the consequences could be significant. You may want to check out Wilderness Survival for more information.

• Stay put - If you can't move or are not in any immediate danger. If others are likely to find you. Moving can get you further away from help. You may move outside the area others will be looking for you.
• Move to a visible location - Usually this means going up higher. If you are lost this may help you get your sense of direction back. You might be able to see others or a road or trail. At least it will let others see you sooner. But be careful of getting too high. You don't want to be above the tree line if a storm moves in.
• Making some kind of signal - a fire with smoke or a message with whatever is available – could be anything people might recognize as not natural like parallel lines, simple shapes, arrow, HELP. Large parks have rangers on the lookout for fires so smoke will attract them quickly.
• Are you in danger from the weather? Consider finding or making a shelter.

Always take along a little extra just to be prepared if something goes wrong with you or someone in your group or some you happen to come across. Consider taking a light weight jacket, bivvy sack, hat, water, food, whistle, fire starter.

You may also be interested in learning more about Staying Found.