Safety on the Trail - Water

Well, the most important thing is to bring plenty of drinking water - this is the one thing you really suffer if you are short of. Here we have Greg's Camelbak which is a bladder of water which you slip inside the pack - anyway carrying it is going to be suitable of course.

The beauty of this system and other systems like it is that you can sip on water while you're walking, so it slips inside the pack like that and the nozzle pokes out and it is positioned convenient to have a sip while you are walking.

What is important before you start walking, have a big drink of water, hydrate before you even start and keep drinking all the way through - you can't get short of water around here.

Safety on the Trail - Sun Protection

I think the next most important item is sun protection, because the sun here can be incredibly intense especially in the hotter months. You will suffer sorely if you do not protect yourself from the sun.

You need a good hat, a scarf is a good idea like Greg  is wearing there to protect the neck ... lightweight trousers, long sleeve shirt - very effective. Even finger less gloves are good for protecting your hands from the heat of the sun, and of course sunscreen.

Keep it on hand in a side pocket of the pack and ensure that the bits that aren't covered by clothing..., 

Sunglasses, very important as well because it can be brutal sometimes in Jordan, it can be very very hot.

It's very important that you protect yourself.

Safety on the Trail - Emergency Equipment

You certainly want to carry first aid kit with at least a collection of band-aids of various sizes triangular bandages, regular bandages, compression bandages for sprained ankles or serious cuts and some anti septic.

There is various other items that you may want to include ... or other medication that you may need.

If there is an emergency and somebody's injured, keeping them warm is very important. You can cool down very quickly when you stop moving.

What we have here is a space blanket, very light, but very effective in keeping the body warmth in. And it's also very effective in creating a high visibility item that allows you to be found more easily by rescuers or by your fellow hikers if you become separated.

For that we always have also a safety vest with us. Wearing this one will really make you stand out in the desert. It is a good thing to have with you.

What do you got there Greg? We have a whistle - nice - I will give a demonstration now.

If you're in trouble, attracting attention is of course important. Other ways to attract attention - with a mirror, and this compass has a mirror built-in into it, a mirror is very effective on a bright day attracting attention from many many kilometers away.

At night, a flashlight is also effective for attracting attention from a long way away and of course a head torch like this is also very good if you stayed out later than expected. It is not such a drama if got a head torch and still pick your way through.

The final one on this point is a little lighter like that, have a couple of them in your pack. This is a good way to signal as well -  you make a small fire - is very visible in the daytime,  you can make smoke that attracts attention.

That covers the visibility components. What about the hiking poles you got there Greg?

We mainly have them with us in case of an injury. Imagine you spray your ankle, which I have done in the past. It is not easy to get out of the field without additional support, especially when you are by yourself. These hiking poles really give you essential support to find your way back to a road or to your car.