By following these 15 safety tips you will be able to go hiking alone with confidence, ready to enjoy your walk whilst getting home safely ready to plan your next walk. If you are going to be hiking alone for more than a few hours, you will need to ensure that you have food with you, unless you plan to stop in a village or town. 4. 5 Safety Tips For Walking Alone At Night These tips will help you avoid and escape an attacker. in Life Hacks. Advice for walkers when crossing a railway line using a level crossing. If you go much quicker than you usually do, you may cause injury to muscles. Stay safe by not putting yourself at risk of natural features. Make sure you have a lightweight mid-layer and/or waterproof jacket. You should learn how quickly you normally walk, so that you can accurately plan your route for the day. But when you are out hiking alone is not the time to test those limits. The truth is, you already have the skills you need to stay safe when you travel. If you are on a residential trip and walking away from home, you should tell the receptionist at your hotel so that they will be aware of your planned movements. Carry a Whistle: While many women already do this, … If you have a fear of cows it’s better to steer clear rather than find yourself in amongst them before it’s too late to turn round. Avoid being distracted by your cellphone, and avoid dark alleyways and parking lots where people can easily hide. Read our latest update and position on coronavirus. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 1) Keep Your Keys Ready You should make sure that you have enough food to keep you going throughout the day, but you should also pack some high calorie emergency rations as well. So either pick a popular route that you know will have plenty of other people hiking, or one that you have walked before, ideally several times. 1. If you are worried someone is following you, turn around. When walking at night, make sure you walk confidently and with a purpose. 2. Walkers should always take plenty of water (or other suitable beverage) with them, as dehydration seriously affects energy levels. He or she may require that you have a physical exam or give you special instructions based on your medical history. Always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. But there will always be people who use the darkness to their advantage, targeting those who have the misfortune to cross their path at night. Safety tips for walking alone Know your limitations. One of the many draws about walking in Britain is that you can do it as part of a group or you can do it alone. You never know when you might need to … Getting the balance right between allowing children their independence and ensuring their safety when away from home can be difficult. Many crimes are opportunistic and the sight of someone ... Have Suitable Clothing. Hiking alone is such an amazing experience that everyone should do it at least once in their lives! Walking Home Alone: Safety Tips. A lone worker can be anyone who works alone in a fixed facility or away from his or her typical base. WalkingAcademy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Children who develop road awareness in primary school are in a much better position when they make the transition to secondary school. I set myself up for safety. Stay safe and learn how to fight back with these effective safety tips. Still, prevention is an important start and a significant aspect of these 50 tips on solo travel safety. With these tips, you can learn how to stay safe at night by equipping yourself with the right tools. It was about ten o’clock in the evening as I walked from the BART train station to my home four blocks away. A... Update contacts. Consider doing an easy out and back route, rather than a circular route – it’s much easier to get lost on the latter. This is one of the best tips for women hiking alone. That way you can easily refer to it regularly, to make sure you are en route. So make sure you take a little extra, just in case you do get stuck somehow and need to keep yourself nourished. Darren Laur and his wife Beth Laur began teaching self-defense classes and safety seminars in 1993, and have since reached thousands of women. Walking or running alone may increase your chance of being attacked. It is essential for all women walking alone at night to be conscious of their surrounding and not be in their own world with their headphones. Don't wear headphones: Your ears are an important piece of sensing danger. When you go out walking by yourself, it is normal to have to carry a bit more weight so that you can make sure that you have adequate provisions and all of the necessary safety equipment. Always keep your keys close at hand when you are walking home alone. Especially if it’s a route you have done only once and may have gone wrong then (me and Nicky almost always go wrong first time). It’s better to start small, maybe going for just a couple of miles, on a route that you have done before, than to plan an epic journey. Carry a can of pepper spray in your pocket and have your hand on it. 1114 Pexels Unfortunately, sexual assault and other violent crimes are prevalent on college campuses across the country. River crossings can be slippery and dangerous with tides that run faster than you think. Here are some tips for safe walking when you are by yourself. Personal safety has become an issue of importance for everyone, but especially for women Concerned about this state of affairs, Sgt. Safety How to keep safe and tips for dealing with different situations that you may encounter when out and about walking. Make sure to tell them what your name is, how long you plan on hiking, and what time and day you think you will be back. It is worth noting that it should be possible to call 999 using any network, even if you do not have phone signal with your standard network provider. You may even consider heightening your hearing through listening techniques. Last night I was walking out of work and the parking lot was pretty dark as I am walking, I realize that I didn’t follow my own rule…Never walk alone with your hands full. Level crossings. When you are planning your route for the day, you need to consider your own limitations. Try to avoid walking alone at night in places such as parks and side streets or any unfamiliar environment. Apr 11, 2008 Last night I was heading downtown to see a friend. It’s better to be safe to try another day, maybe with a friend, than to stumble on getting more and more lost. While walking alone isn’t ideal, it’s a reality and one you must be prepared to deal with. 1. It is important to hear and sense danger through movements and sounds. It can be rewarding to walk and hike alone, but you also need to do it safely. You may not realise that storms are due in the latter part of the day – have you got waterproofs? A key component of worker safety is to watch out for one another. And having got very muddy the... Britains' Favourite Walks - Top 100 with Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba. And that goes for water too – don’t run out and get dehydrated way before you finish. You may have planned your route for weeks, and you think you know it well. Don’t over estimate your own capabilities. You probably can walk further, quicker or higher than your normal limits. --Trust your … There are five important safety tips for women who have to walk home all alone at night. You don’t want to choose somewhere remote, that you have never been to before. These areas may not be safe, which means that you might actually be putting yourself in harm’s way. A healthy walker will normally cover about 3 to 4 miles per hour over even ground, but distance covered per hour will reduce when going uphill or over boggy terrain. However, lone work presents a fundamental challenge to watchfulness. In order to keep yourself safe as a pedestrian, there are a few rules of thumb you need to keep in mind. You can build up confidence ready to extend those walks next time. Written by Ci. This shouldn’t be as much of an issue in the UK as if you are in the wilds of Africa or America, but be aware of the local wildlife. Give them the phone number of your emergency contact in case you don’t return on time. What happens if you get lost and get cold as the evening draws in? If you do have to walk, stick to busy places where is a lot of activity CCTV and good lighting. Either way walking at night can be a daunting and nerve-wracking experience. Here are some ways to protect yourself if you’re hiking alone. I believe it's mostly because I think in terms of prevention. Things happen! Adequate provisions. You should never take unnecessary risks whilst you are out walking by yourself. We alluded to this in your preparation, but make sure that the map or guidebook that you remembered to bring with you is actually checked, rather than just being something you are carrying. On the other hand, they will have a rough idea of where you might be if they cannot get in contact with you. You may come across some difficulties – maybe getting lost, issues with blisters or maybe running out of water. By Deanne Hess. Top 11 Tips for Pedestrian Safety: Walking Safety Rules Walking is a simple, low-impact activity that people of almost any age can do to help stay in shape, but there are still dangers. If you go out walking by yourself, you should always carry a mobile phone with you. If you carry a physical car key, keep it in your hand when walking alone, especially in parking lots. Most people hiking are friendly and safe, but if you feel uneasy, look for an escape route or latch onto other groups of people hiking – there’s safety in numbers. If walking by yourself, hold your cell phone and be ready to make an emergency call. Staying safe can be easy if you prepare well at any time, but especially if you are planning to hike alone. True, no amount of prevention is a guarantee of safety. If they don;’t get a reply then they know there is a chance that you may be in danger, and that they could consider raising an alarm. 3. Since then we have had hundreds of lovely walks, and I thought it would be good to share some of the things I've learned along the way. Walk at a steady pace and walk facing traffic to keep yourself visible. They’re the same skills you use at home to stay safe. This article is meant to provide you with tips and not to scare you from traveling by yourself. There is no phone signal in many rural areas in Britain, but carrying a mobile phone with you will allow you to contact the emergency services as soon as possible if something does happen. Call and tell them the landmarks you have reached – if you do experience issues later on and they come looking for you they will know to check from the last landmark that you told them about onwards. If it is dark or dim, be certain to carry a flashlight while you’re walking. Stay Safe When Walking Alone at Night. If you are planning a full days walk, you should make sure that you will get back before the sun sets. This will be a great help in the unlikely event that a search party needs to be mobilised. Dr. Grace provides tips to make sure your next walk is a safe one. Remember though: basic hiking training and … If you walk too far you may get so far away from home before realising that you have had enough. Which is why it pays … This made great viewing for New Year's Day 2021 - a nice way to plan some walks for... Hi I'm Paul, I have taken up walking since my partner Nicky rescued our dog, Paco, from the streets of Romania through a charity, Perrera Dogs UK. One of the most effective ways to prepare children is to start young and practise through real experience, like walking to school, the park or the playground. Personal attacks and assaults from strangers are rare, however you should take care and follow these basic rules to keep safe. 5 Essentials For Women Walking Alone at Night. Knowing your limitations will help you to plan a route that you can do without putting yourself in danger or without getting into difficulties. If you are not feeling particularly comfortable about doing something, you should avoid doing it. Safety Tips for Walking Alone. Get our top tips for walking safety for children. Keep your pace steady and head for the nearest store or restaurant to ask for directions. Invest in a way you could call for help if you needed to.. On the other hand, if you are walking as part of a group it is possible to carry necessary safety equipment (torch, bivvy bag etc) spread evenly across the group. If you get lost, don't wander aimlessly. What is more, you may be trespassing if you walk away from the footpath in certain areas. Before you head off, let your best friend or partner know your route, and an approximation of how long you will be. Here are seven crucial safety tips for women walking alone at night. Carry some sort of protection device. If you are heading out for your first solo hike, take it easy. If you have told your friend or partner where you are going, why not just check in with them at certain points along the way. In most cases, this will just involve them giving you a call on your phone to see whether you have been delayed. You should make sure that it is charged up before you head out. This site is owned and operated by Paul Gent. For others, it’s a far less common event. 5 Safety Tips for Walking Alone at Night (Bruce Lee) Bruce Lee’s safety tips for walking alone deals with two common-sense factors: Avoid any blind spots, as it reduces the chances of you getting caught off-guard. Keep Your Keys Close. No-one will look out for you or be able to help you get over your situation. Have you got a sun hat and sun block, as well as enough water? Go one step further and preset one of … Learn Self-Defense. Don’t be afraid of asking other hikers for help – they have almost certainly had issues themselves before, and will help set you back on track, supply you with some plasters, or either give you water or tell you where you can top up your bottle. Before you head off on a walk, you should inform someone about where you are going and what time you expect to be back by. --If you are walking alone at night, stay near well lit places of business and well lit walk ways. Apr 06, 2016. Your instincts are built on knowledge and experience, and should therefore be relied on when you are out by yourself. I asked 30 other solo female travelers to give me their best safety tips for traveling alone, and this is … So here are 15 safety tips for when you hike alone. Whilst it’s great to walk with others, at times it’s not always possible, and some people even prefer to walk alone. If you meet someone en route and they just make you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts... 10 – Check your map. So keep your exhilarating walks for when you are in the company of others and can share them. But you don’t have to take my word alone for it. You certainly don’t want to get caught in a thunderstorm. Staying in these areas will make it much easier for search teams to find you if they need to come out to look for you for whatever reason. And if there is a chance of it getting dark, ensure you have packed a head torch to help show the way. First shown in 2018, I watched Britain's Favourite Walks Top 100 today, presented by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba. Trust your gut When out alone at night, your instincts are your best friend. Having your key available reduces the amount of … You may not come across alligators or bears, but you may find yourself in a field of cows or maybe startled deer. Before I get into safety advice I want to address the questions I often get… However, for most people, it can seem like an unnecessary risk to take. 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