Prevention: Avoid Hazardous Animals
Most wild animal encounters can be avoided with caution and a little common sense. Follow these rules to experience an enjoyable, safe trip.

Prevention: Avoid Heat Illness
Humans do not tolerate heat exposure very well. Once heat illness has occurred, it can rapidly become life-threatening.

Prevention: Avoid Lightning
You can't outmaneuver a storm, so be alert and seek shelter from lightning, the near-instantaneous discharge of 200 million - 1 billion volts.

Prevention: Avoid Poisonous Snakes
You can avoid poisonous snakes if you are familiar with their appearance and natural behavior. Never handle a snake unless you are an expert.

Prevention: Prevent Altitude-Related Disorders
High altitude disorders are common above an altitude of 8,000 feet. Proper acclimatization is essential for these environments.

Prevention: Prevent Frostbite
Prevention is no more important for any other area of outdoor health than for frostbite. Keep body parts from cooling and freezing.

Prevention: Prevent Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a dangerous, uncontrolled drop in body temperature that is one of the most frequent causes of death in the mountains.

Prevention: Prevent Near-Drowning
Virtually every outdoor experience exposes the participants to water environments. Be extremely vigilant with children near any body of water.

Prevention: Water Treatment
No source of natural water should be considered safe for drinking before it's disinfected. Diarrhea is no fun in the wilderness.