horses. hiking, outdoors

Horses

Horses can be dangerous. My little sister had a friend, who unfortunately, was killed while horseback riding at the age of 10. She was thrown from her horse, and had a hard fall. Worst part was, she was riding alone. The fall stopped her heart. Had another person been there, there is a good chance she might have been revived. But as it was, she was not found until several hours too late.

·	Never let children unsupervised around any animal, particularly large ones.

·	Teach children respect for horses and other large animals.

·	Teach them to never walk behind a horse, cow, or other large animal. A horses kick can kill a child.

Hiking/Outdoors
Ahhhhh, the great outdoors. What a way to spend a weekend. A safe weekend, that is.

·	Keep small children at an adults side at all times to avoid attack by a mountain lion or cougar. Children are often considered prey by mountain lions, which are silent and quick.

·	Make lots of noise when outdoors or hiking.

·	Take extra precaution around outdoor grills and campfires. These areas are a potential burn hazard to children. Keep all kids and pets safely away.

·	Learn how to spot potentially dangerous plants, such as sumac, poison ivy, or poison oak.

·	Pack plenty of food and water for the trip.

·	Be sure to pack lots of bug spray to keep mosquitoes, (The worlds most deadly creature), and other things at bay.

·	Check your children for ticks on a regular basis.

·	Bring extra clothes, temperatures in the mountains can vary by as much as 40 degrees or more.

·	Be sure to check around your campsite for discarded needles, knives, razor blades, and other hazards. Campsites can sometimes be spots for partying drug users, and the aftermath they leave behind is often not cleaned up.

·	Survey campsites ahead of time for any dangerous rivers or cliffs that would need extra precaution around your kids.

·	Instruct children to never play near a campfire.

·	Explain to them the importance of sticking by their parents or another adult in the wilderness.

·	Teach children to never touch snakes or other animals they find in the wild. As a child, I loved snakes. I found one while camping, and was toting it back to our campsite. I was surprised when a startled park ranger told me to put it down. Turns out it was a baby rattlesnake.

Teach children to make lots of noise when hiking, to avoid startling a snake, and give them plenty of time to leave. I remember a particular field trip, when we discovered two rattlesnakes along our path, luckily long before any children got anywhere near them. But snakes are a constant danger to hikers.

·	Teach children what dangerous plants are, and teach them how to recognize them. Kids will usually enjoy learning.

·	Teach children the dangers of drinking water out of a river or stream. Bring plenty of water, or, in an emergency, boil the water to kill the potentially deadly germs.