​Enjoying the great outdoors in northern Arizona can be fun, but precautions should be taken to prevent accidents. The U.S. Forest Service suggests the most effective way to prevent mishaps is to adequately prepare for the trip.

Knowledge of the area, weather, terrain, limitations of your body, plus a little common sense can help to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.

• Travel with a companion. You don’t want to be by yourself in case of an emergency.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with a responsible person.

Include such details as the make, year, and license plate of your vehicle, the equipment you’re bringing, the weather you’ve anticipated and when you plan to return.

If you’ll be entering a remote area, your group should have a minimum of four people; this way, if one is hurt, another can stay with the victim while two go for help.

If you’ll be going into an area that is unfamiliar to you, take along someone who knows the area or at least speak with those who are before you set out. If an area is closed, do not go there.

• A group trip should be designed for the weakest member of the group. If you have any medical conditions, discuss your plans with your health care provider and get approval before departing.

Make sure you have the skills you need for your camping or hiking adventure. You may need to know how to read a compass, erect a temporary shelter, or give first aid. Practice your skills in advance.

If you plan to climb or travel to high altitudes, make plans for proper accli­matization to the altitude.

• Think about your footing while traveling near cliffs.

Trees and bushes can’t always be trusted to hold you. Stay on developed trails or dry, solid rock areas with good footing.

• Be weather wise. Keep an eye on current and predicted weather condi­tions. In this area, weather can change very quickly.

Avoid bare ridge tops, exposed places, lone trees, streams and rocks during lightning storms.

Find shelter in a densely forested area at a lower elevation.

Even in the summer, exposure to wind and rain can result in hypothermia.

• Learn basic first aid so you will know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses.

Carry a first aid kit with you. Learn how to identify the symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration and know how to treat them.

• Make camp before dark. Traveling after darkness has resulted in many accidents from falls, so travel only during daylight.
• No matter how clean or pure stream water looks, it’s likely to contain water-borne parasites and microorgan­isms that can cause discomfort and sometimes serious illness.

Pack your water in or purify through chemical treatment.