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If you travel into the wilderness, forests or parks, you should be aware of certain health risks.
Be prepared before travelling into the wilderness, forests or parks.
Check your equipment before you leave home to ensure that you have everything you need. Pack for the wilderness according to the season, your destination and the length of your trip. Some gear to pack may include:
Travel in groups of three or more whenever possible. This way, if someone is injured, one person can stay with the victim while the other goes for help. In addition, know your physical abilities and limitations, and hike on trails within your ability. Be sure to carry a compass and a map of the area where you will be travelling.
Parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, weight loss, and fatigue lasting up to several weeks. These parasites can be carried by humans, as well as by certain domestic and wild animals.
These parasites can get into any surface water, such as lakes, streams and rivers. They can contaminate drinking water or water used for human consumption.
Water quality and safety can also be affected by humans practicing unhealthy, backcountry hygiene. If proper toilet facilities are not available, human wastes should be buried away from streams and other bodies of water.
Backcountry travellers should
always boil water for at least two minutes, or chemically treat water before
drinking it or brushing their teeth.
The experienced traveller avoids close contact with wild animals for safety reasons and to avoid disruption of their normal activities.
Animals are potentially dangerous if approached too closely, especially bears and female moose with calves. Be careful and keep your distance. Always remember that wild animals can carry a variety of diseases.
Travellers in parks, forests and other wilderness areas should not attempt to feed or touch any wild animals. Special care should be taken to avoid contact with any animal that appears to be ill or dead. If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, or bitten by a flea or tick, you should consult a doctor.
Contact your local health unit or family doctor if you have been bitten or scratched by an animal that is behaving strangely or seems to be sick, or if you think a bat may have been in the room or tent while you were sleeping.
As bats have tiny sharp teeth, bite or scratch marks usually go unnoticed. For this reason if the person has contact with a bat and cannot rule out the possibility that they have been bitten, scratched or licked, they should be treated. Examples of this type of contact are a child alone in a room with a bat, or waking and finding a bat in a room or tent.
Fleas and ticks are tiny insects that can bite or burrow part way into your skin and draw blood out before dropping off. They can carry and spread a number of diseases.
If you find a tick set in or under your skin, the best way to remove it is by grasping and pulling it gently, straight up and out with a small pair of tweezers. Disinfect the area with rubbing alcohol. Do not touch the tick with your hands. You may wish to save the tick in a small plastic or glass container for later inspection by your doctor, especially if a fever develops, or the area around the bite appears to be infected. Other insect bites may also cause concerns. Some people may have severe allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings, and should carry appropriate medication as prescribed by their doctor. Mosquitoes may carry West Nile Virus. To protect against insect bites, use insect repellent on all uncovered skin and wear loose fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
If you have any concerns about any insect bite, contact your doctor.
For more information on wilderness activities and recreation, visit the BC Parks Web site at www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/.
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