Health & Safety Preparedness
Personal Hygiene
A Scout is clean. It is extremely important that backpackers stay clean and healthy in the backcountry. The dirtier you become, the more likely it is that you will become sick, get an infection, or sustain an injury. The best ways to stay clean on the trail include:
- Changing clothes regularly (especially socks and underwear).
- Brushing your teeth.
- Taking showers whenever possible.
- Washing clothes whenever possible.
- Washing your hands after using a latrine.
- Washing and sanitizing your hands before each meal.
- Properly washing, rinsing, and sanitizing your dishes.
Although a few backcountry camps have showers, you can have a “bandana bath” at any campsite. Simply get a wet bandana and a drop of Campsuds and wash yourself off at the sump. Remain clothed at all times to keep in compliance with youth protection and make sure to dispose of all waste water at the sump. To help your crew stay clean and healthy, Philmont now approves the use of clotheslines during daylight hours so that you can efficiently dry your clothes after you wash them. Remember to remove the clotheslines at dusk to prevent someone from walking into them at night. It is important to regularly wash clothes that touch the skin, i.e. socks, underwear, and shirts. Wearing the same dirty clothes day after day can lead to serious problems. For example, if you wear the same socks four days straight, your chances of getting a severe blister are much greater, making your trek much more difficult.
Dehydration
Prevent: Drink plenty of water and sports drinks during strenuous hiking and hot/dry weather – a hiker will need to drink several liters a day. Alternating between water and sports drinks will help to replace important electrolytes as well as fluids lost during strenuous hiking.
Recognize: Headache, fatigue, and nausea are early signs of dehydration. More severe signs of dehydration may include dizziness, vision changes, difficulty walking and altered level of consciousness. If a patient is unable to keep down adequate amounts of fluid, then advanced medical care may be
required.
Treatment: It is important to begin treating dehydration as soon as you recognize the symptoms. Prevent the dehydration from becoming worse by resting and staying out of the heat. Rehydrate with water or half-strength sports drink; full strength sports drinks may cause upset stomach in an already nauseated patient, but a half strength sports drinks will still provide needed electrolytes for the dehydrated patient.
Blisters
Prevent: Blisters are caused by the heat resulting from friction and rubbing between the shoe and the foot. Wearing well broken in boots and good fitting, clean hiking socks will prevent friction and blisters. Hikers should recognize a “hot spot” and take steps to treat them before they become blisters.
Recognize: Blisters are areas of irritated and painful skin, where fluid and blood begins to collect and can be very painful.
Treatment: If a blister forms, do not pop or drain it. Use moleskin to create a cushion to protect the blister by cutting a hole in the middle of the pad slightly larger than the blister. Place the moleskin over the affected area so that the blister is surrounded by the bandage but not covered. This will reduce the friction between the blister and the sock, preventing the blister from getting any larger. If the blister pops on its own, make sure that the area stays clean and covered and watch for signs of infection
Heat Related Illness
Prevent: Philmont’s dry desert climate can reach temperatures above 100° F, and drop close to freezing temperatures at night in higher elevations. It is important that hikers at Philmont be prepared with appropriate equipment and anticipate the potential for extreme temperatures. When high heat is anticipated avoid hiking in the heat of the day, and take frequent breaks, avoid wearing dark or tight
fitting clothing, and stay hydrated.
Recognize: Signs of heat illness can vary widely from profuse sweating, red skin, elevated temperature, and irritability, to more severe symptoms such as altered level of consciousness, and seizures.
Treatment: Sit down in shade and hydrate with half-strength sports drink to replenish fluids and electrolytes. If heat exhaustion is treated appropriately, heat stroke will not occur. Heat stroke, a life threatening condition, is when a person’s body temperature gets too high and the body can no longer cool itself. Heat stroke patients may exhibit an altered level of consciousness, have seizures, and die if not treated quickly.
Acute Mountain Sickness
Prevent: Philmont Scout Ranch is located at elevations between 6,500 and 12,500 feet. This is a higher elevation than most of the U.S. and it is not uncommon for participants to feel the effects of altitude in their first few days at Philmont. Altitude symptoms can be prevented by ascending to altitude slowly. Participants traveling from low elevations may benefit by spending an extra day at altitude (Colorado Springs for example) on the way to Philmont. It is important to stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and get plenty of rest to allow your body to adjust to the altitude.
Recognize: Symptoms of acute mountain sickness can vary but generally consist of a headache, nausea, and feeling lethargic. Some people report insomnia and loss of appetite. In more severe cases of altitude illness, patients may experience shortness of breath at rest or change in level of consciousness.
Treatment: The best treatment for altitude illness is descending to a lower altitude and allowing time to adjust. Symptoms may also be treated by staying hydrated and taking an over the counter pain medication.
Ankle & Knee Injuries: Prevention, Recognition, and Treatment
Prevent: Philmont’s trails can be rocky and uneven, increasing the risk of slips, trips, and falls—especially with a heavy pack. To prevent injuries, always watch your footing, avoid horseplay, and wear well-broken-in mid- to high-top boots that offer solid ankle support.
Recognize: Sore knees and ankles are common after a long day on the trail. However, watch for signs that go beyond normal fatigue: swelling, discoloration, deformity, or the inability to walk more than four steps without sharp pain can all signal an actual injury.
Treat: Use the R.I.C.E. method—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation—to reduce pain and swelling.
- For ankle injuries, keep the boot on to limit swelling and splint the ankle to keep it stable.
- For knee injuries, splint from thigh to calf in the most comfortable position for the injured person.
Proper care early on can prevent a minor injury from becoming a trek-ending issue.
