Safety Tips
Missouri State Park Rangers
Bicycle Safety Tips
- Wear proper safety equipment (e.g, helmet).
- See and be seen. Wear highly visible clothing.
- Avoid bicycling at night. If you ride at night, wear reflective clothing and have a headlight and taillight.
- Stay alert. Expect the unexpected.
- Exercise caution and constantly be aware of the traffic around you.
- Obey all traffic laws.
- Make sure your bicycle is in good working condition.
Helpful Resources
Water-Related Safety Tips
- Watch out for underwater hazards (e.g., underwater stumps, logs and rocks).
- Always wear personal flotation devices.
- Never leave children unsupervised near the water.
- Never swim alone (i.e., use the buddy system).
- Do not overload a boat. The boat's capacity can be determined by using this formula:
People = (length of boat X width)
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15 - Everyone in the boat should have approved personal flotation devices.
- All children under the age of 16 should be supervised by an adult while operating a boat.
- Do not operate a boat while drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Use common courtesy and follow the rules of the road when operating a boat.
- Always carry the required safety equipment in your boat.
Safety Tips for Camping-Related Activities
- Familiarize and observe all park rules and regulations.
- Some tents and sleeping bags are made of "flame retardant material"; however, that does not mean they are fireproof.
- Do not cook inside your tent.
- Gasoline is extremely explosive and should never be used to start a fire.
- Please respect neighboring campers' privacy and property.
- Do not leave your campsite without securing your camping gear.
- When hiking or driving, make sure to stay on existing roads and trails.
- Avoid feeding and harassing the wildlife.
- Do not litter! If you pack it in, then pack it out! Pick up litter even if it is not yours.
- Leave your campsite in better condition than you found it.
- Always wear comfortable shoes and clothes when hiking. To avoid blisters, wear two pairs of socks.
- Always tell someone your intended destination and how long you expect to be gone when your are hiking.
- If you become lost in the woods, stay put and let the search party find you.
10 Essential Items that Every Wilderness Traveler Should Carry on Their Person
- Extra clothing (e.g., sweater or pile/fleece and a mylar survival blanket)
- Knife
- Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs
- Map
- Compass
- Fire starter and matches
- Water
- Extra food
- Sunglasses
- First aid kit
Tips for Cold-Weather Camping or Outdoor Activities
- Dress properly. The secret to staying warm lies in keeping dry and being properly insulated. Dress in layers. Each layer in the system traps air and therefore insulates. Multiple thinner layers trap more air than a single bulky layer and allows less heat to escape.
- Add clothing before you are chilled and remove it before you are soaking with sweat.
- The first layer next to the skin should consist of long underwear made from polypropylene or polyester. This layer transports moisture away from the skin.
- The middle layer may contain multiple layers. This layer absorbs the moisture away from the skin and acts as an insulating layer. Synthetic pile/fleece pullovers work the best. Wool garments also work very well.
- The third layer is called the shell layer. It provides insulation, but its main function is to repel the elements. This layer must be waterproof.
- Do not use cotton fabric in any of your layers. Cotton absorbs and holds water.
- Drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is needed to stay warm.
- Eat foods high in complex carbohydrates and increase intake of fats.
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Keep all exposed skin covered to prevent frostbite.
- Keep your head and neck covered.
- Keep dry.
Tips for Staying Warm While Sleeping in Cold Weather
- Use a sleeping bag suitable for the temperatures you will be sleeping in.
- Use a tent or other shelter that will keep the temperature at 10 degrees warmer than the outside.
- Wear dry and clean synthetic long underwear. Wear clean and dry socks.
- Eat a good meal high in complex carbohydrates before bed.
- Remove all wet clothes and dry your body with a dry towel.
- Wear a hat to bed.
- Drink hot liquids but avoid excessive liquids right before bedtime.
- Fill a water bottle with hot water and insulate it with a sock and place it inside your sleeping bag.
