How to treat a child’s broken tooth during a day hike

Dental injuries on a hike most often occur during a fall.

Sometimes when hiking, dental emergencies occur with children, often as a result of a bad fall but even from something surprising such as biting down wrong on a hard nut in the trail mix.

Among the most common dental injuries is a broken tooth. To treat it, you’ll need drinking water, pain reliever, chewing gum, and a breakable ice pack. Two of the three items are on my recommended list of a first-aid kit’s contents while drinking water is a must on any day hiking trip.

To treat the broken tooth, first have the child rinse his mouth with drinking water to remove any debris and blood. Next, have the child take pain reliever; liquid acetaminophen such Tylenol or liquid ibuprofen is recommended. Hopefully the child has been chewing the gum before the tooth broke; if so, the gum can be shaped to fit around the sensitive nerve exposed by the break. Finally, to reduce pain, break the ice pack so it turns cold and have the child hold it against the cheek on the side of the mouth that the tooth broke; this will reduce any swelling and help relieve pain.

You then should turn back for home. Forcing a child to work through the pain only will make the hike unbearable for them and eventually for you. Once you have cell phone service, contact your dentist for further instructions.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Prepare your feet to avoid injuries on hike

Most hikers will agree that the most important piece of gear and equipment they have for the trail is their own feet. There’s good reason for such an attitude: If your feet are sore, the hike will become a death march rather than a pleasurable activity. This is even truer for children, who lack an adult’s ability to resist physical pain to achieve a goal.

Fortunately, you can take some simple steps with your feet and those of your children to ensure the hike remains enjoyable.

Before the hike:
g Trim toenails – Long toenails will place pressure on the toe as they push against the boot. Toenails shouldn’t catch on socks, either, or they’ll wear a hole in them, which can lead to blisters. Trim straight across the nail rather than round the corners.
g Smooth calluses with a file – Blisters can form under large calluses, resulting in an infection. Calluses usually occur because of ill-fitting shoes.
g Rid inside of hiking boots of lint and small stones – This debris only will rub against your feet as they eliminate the spacing between your sock and hiking boot.
g Replace frayed shoelaces – Ripped laces won’t tie properly, creating pressure points on the top of your feet and preventing the boot from fitting snugly, which can lead to twists and falls.
g Replace the insole – Use a thinner pad if the boot fits too tightly or a thicker pad if the boot fits too loosely.
g Apply baby powder to inside of boot – This helps absorb moisture and keep the foot dry. Excessive moisture from sweat can lead to cold, wet feet.

When putting on boots:
g Wear wool socks – Cotton socks don’t absorb moisture as well. Wool socks also tend to be thicker, providing more cushion.
g Smooth socks around feet – Socks that are bunched up lead to friction and blisters. They also may expose part of the bare foot or leg to the boot, which definitely will be uncomfortable and lead to skin burns.
g Tie laces properly – The laces should ensure that the boot is snug but not tight. If laces dig into the foot, they will be uncomfortable.

Also be sure you know how to treat blisters and have the materials for doing so in your first-aid kit. While the above tips should prevent any problems, being able to address any foot issues during the hike will help tremendously.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Garbage bags prove beneficial as extra item in backpack

Pack a small roll of garbage bags for
your day hike. Illustration courtesy of
King County, Washington.

One of the most useful items to bring on a long day hiking trip is a roll of garbage bags. No, we’re not talking about picking up litter along the trail (Though they can be used for that purpose, and it’s much appreciated, by the way!) but as a useful item in case you get lost and are forced to spend the night in the wilds.

Garbage bags can be cut up and used as makeshift tent walls or tarp to keep you dry or to keep the wind off you. The ends of long sticks can be used as tent poles inserted into tiny holes cut into the garbage bags; you probably have a small scissors in your first-aid kit or multi-purpose tool to cut the holes. The bags also can keep you off the wet, cold ground by acting as flooring in your shelter.

They also can provide a modicum of comfort. Partially fill the garbage bags with leaves and tie off the ends to create a mattress or pillow. You’ll probably need two or three bags to make a large enough mattress for an adult. Filling the mattress with leaves also can give children something constructive to do, helping take their minds of worrying about being lost.

Heavy duty garbage bags work best; the low-cost ones tend to be made of thin plastic that’ll easily rip in a heavy wind or driving rain. Bring a whole roll with you, as you’ll need several bags to construct tents, mattresses and pillows.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to bandage a child’s wound during a day hiking accident

When children suffer cuts and scrapes during an day hiking accident, the wound will need to be bandaged. This could be as simple as simply applying a lone adhesive bandage. For deep or long cuts, however, that a single adhesive bandage won’t cover, more is required.

Before bandaging any wound, ensure that it the bleeding has stopped and that the wound has been disinfected.

Begin the bandaging by lining up the cut’s edges. Then, from the wound’s center, apply adhesive bandages so that they cross-cross one another. Do this for the length of the cut. Always try to push up the edges of the cut against one another.

Next, cover this pattern of adhesive bandages with a sterile wrap. This helps ensure the adhesive bandages remain over the wound.

Whatever you do, don’t try to stitch the wound with a needle and thread unless you are a medical professional and have the proper tools. Stitching in the wilds almost always results in a poorly healing cut and greatly raises the risk of infection.

In dire emergencies, some people have used superglue to hold wounds together, but there should be no need for the drastic solution. Adhesive bandages and sterile wrap ought to be part of your first-aid kit.

Skin needs about 72 hours to close up beneath a bandage. During this time and for a few days after, check the cut to ensure that bleeding does not begin again or that an infection has not set in. If either occurs, immediately seek medical attention.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to disinfect a wound while day hiking with children

Should day hiking children be wounded from a fall or other accident, you’ll almost certainly have to treat the injury. That almost always requires disinfecting the wound.

A wound typically is any severe cut of the skin. Internal parts of the body may be exposed. Disinfecting this wound is vital, for the real threat beyond blood loss is an infection setting in.

Stop the bleeding
The first step is to stop the bleeding. This should be done by applying a sterile compress (You should have one in your first-aid kit.) directly to the wound. If the compress soaks through with blood, simply apply another compress directly over it.

If the wound is deep and won’t stop bleeding – this usually is the case when stitches are required – don’t worry about disinfecting the wound. Instead, try to at least slow the bleeding and seek immediate medical attention. The hospital staff applying the stitches will disinfect the wound.

Presuming stitches aren’t needed, once the bleeding is under control, gently remove the compress. If the bleeding resumes, reapply sterile compresses, get the bleeding under control again, and seek immediate medical attention.

Should the bleeding not resume, flush the wound with clean water. Your goal is to get out sand, dirt and debris (such as tiny bits of leaves and dirt) from the wound. Hydrogen peroxide is nice but not necessary for flushing a wound.

Antiobiotic and dressing
Next, apply a triple antibiotic ointment (which also should be in your first-aid kit) to the wound.

Finally, apply clean dressing to the wound. This is best done by applying adhesive bandages in a cross-cross pattern over the length of the cut; be sure to push the wound’s edges together. Then place a sterile wrap over the adhesive bandages.

Keep a close eye on the cut as it heals over the next several days. You don’t want it start to bleeding again, and you don’t want it to become infected. Should either occur, have it looked at by medical professionals.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Plan out what to pack for hike with kids

Preparation for the trail doesn’t end with selecting a route and buying some gear. The next step is packing.

Begin with your water supply. Make sure canteens, water bottles and hydration systems are full; fill them up the night before and leave them in the refrigerator so that you have cold water. Just before hitting the road, strap one canteen to each side of the backpack or fanny pack/utility belt so that they’re more balanced.

Inspect - then pack
Next, make a checklist of everything you plan to take. Inspect each item to ensure it is in working order. As you place it in your fanny pack or backpack, mark off the item.

If lugging a backpack, don’t place pointy objects near your back or they’ll find a way to push into you the entire hike. Generally, the heaviest items go in last, at the bag’s top. This will provide you the greatest comfort when walking.

But for some hikers, the packing order is a bit more complicated. “In my backpack, the heaviest items always go to the front, which is nearest your back,” said Tim L., Harrisonburg, Va. “If the trail is smooth, the heaviest items go to the top. If the trail is rough, the heaviest items go in the bag’s middle or halfway up. If the terrain is extremely rugged, the heavy items go to the bottom.”

Don’t let kids overload packs
Place items you’ll need to get to quickly in the backpack’s sidepockets or at top of the fanny pack. These objects probably will include a first-aid kit, toilet paper and sunscreen lotion. Don’t tie lots of stuff to the outside of the backpack as they can snag on branches and come off.

After you’ve taken care of your gear, do all of the children’s daypacks, preferably with their assistance (and if they’re old enough to carry a backpack, they’re old enough to help). Make sure their pack isn’t overloaded. Among the items that should go in it are a safety whistle, emergency snack, rain jacket and probably a small first-aid kit. Teenagers can carry more, and you can entrust to their care some of what you used to carry when they were younger.

The final step is loading your vehicle. Most of the gear can be packed the night before, but any pieces involving canteens or water bottles obviously will have to wait until morning.

Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Packing checklist for day hiking with kids

Illustration courtesy of By GitHub (github.com/
github/octicons) via Wikimedia Commons

As the following items are placed in your fanny pack or backpack, cross them off (some items may be connected to your belt or backpack, carried around your neck on a lanyard, or worn). You may wish to add items to the list:
g Camera w/ extra batteries
g Candle
g Canteens filled w/ water
g Carabiners
g Compass
g Diapers (if applicable)
g First-aid kit
g Flashlight w/ extra batteries
g GPS (if applicable)
g Insect repellent
g Lip balm
g Maps
g Matches
g Mobile phone
g Multi-purpose tool
g Picnic lunch ingredients (if picnic is planned)
g Prescription medications (if applicable)
g Rain gear (poncho or jacket w/ trousers)
g Re-sealable plastic bags
g Rope
g Safety whistle
g Snacks
g Space blanket
g Sunscreen
g Tarpaulin (if backpack is used)
g Toilet paper
g Toilet trowel
g Wet wipes
g Wristwatch

If an unweaned infant or toddler is with you:
g Bottle w/ nipple
g Milk or formula
g Pacifier

If children are carrying daypacks, place in them:
g Jacket (for rain or wind)
g Maps (duplicates of yours)
g Safety whistle
g Snack

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Create a first-aid kit for day hiking with kids

After water, a first-aid kit is the most essential item you can carry on a day hike with kids.

A first-aid kit for day hikes with kids should include:
g Adhesive bandages of various types and sizes, especially butterfly bandages (for younger kids, make sure they’re colorful kid bandages)
g Aloe vera
g Anesthetic (such as Benzocaine)
g Antacid (tablets)
g Antibacterial (aka antibiotic) ointment (such as Neosporin or Bacatracin)
g Anti-diarrheal tablets (for adults only, as giving this to a child is controversial)
g Anti-itch cream or calamine lotion
g Antiseptics (such as hydrogen peroxide, iodine or Betadine, Mercuroclear, rubbing alcohol)
g Baking soda
g Breakable (or instant) ice packs
g Cotton swabs
g Disposable syringe (w/o needle)
g Epipen (if children or adults have allergies)
g Fingernail clippers (your multi-purpose tool might have this, and if so you can dispense with it)
g Gauze bandage
g Gauze compress pads (2x2 individually wrapped pad)
g Hand sanitizer (use this in place of soap)
g Liquid antihistamine (not Benadryl tablets, however, as children should take liquid not pills; be aware that liquid antihistamines may cause drowsiness)
g Medical tape
g Moisturizer containing an anti-inflammatory
g Mole skin
g Pain reliever (aka aspirin; for children’s pain relief, use liquid acetaminophen such Tylenol or liquid ibuprofen; never give aspirin to a child under 12)
g Poison ivy cream (for treatment)
g Poison ivy soap
g Powdered sports drinks mix or electrolyte additives
g Sling
g Snakebite kit
g Thermometer
g Tweezers (your multi-purpose tool may have this)
g Water purification tablets

If infants are with you, be sure to also carry teething ointment (such as Orajel) and diaper rash treatment.

Many of the items should be taken out of their store packaging to make placement in your fanny pack or back-pack easier. In addition, small amounts of some items – such as baking soda and cotton swabs – can be placed inside re-sealable plastic bags, since you won’t need the whole amount purchased.

Make sure the first-aid items are in a waterproof container. A re-sealable plastic zipper bag is perfectly fine. If you hike in a humid climate like the Midwest or Southeast, be sure to replace the adhesive bandages every couple of months, as they can deteriorate in the moistness. Also, check your first-aid kit every few trips and after any hike in which you’ve just used it, so that you can restock used components and to make sure medicines haven’t expired.

If you have older elementary-age kids and teenagers who’ve been trained in first aid, giving them a kit to carry as well as yourself is a good idea. Should they find themselves lost or if you cannot get to them for a few moments, the kids might need to provide very basic first aid to one another.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Outfit special first-aid kit for dog on hike

We often think of animals as better fit and more resilient than ourselves. Yet if going on a day hike with your family dog, always be as prepared to handle an injury to Rex or Queenie just as you would for your own child. Your dog’s innate curiosity about wild animals and no paws in boots makes it a prime candidate for an injury on the trail.

Just as you would meet the needs of your injured child in different ways than you would for a fellow adult – for example, CPR for an adult performed on a child would break the youngling’s ribs – you’ll need to be aware of your dog’s special medical needs. That means carrying a doggie first-aid kit apart from the one you bring for your children.

Here’s what to include in a doggie first-aid kit:
g First-aid guidebook for dogs – You can’t be expected to know as much as a veterinarian. A guidebook can help ensure you correctly deal with your pet’s needs.
g Iodine solution – A povidone-iodine solution works well as an antiseptic for dogs that suffer cuts and wounds. It should be the color of ice tea and can be applied with a sterile wash cloth.
g Liquid bandage – These work well for paws with cuts and scrapes. However, do not use them for deeper cuts on other parts of the dog’s body, especially if they require stitches, as they can itch, causing scratching and worse infections.
g Saline solution – This can be useful for flushing gunk from the eyes. Make sure that the solution is intended for use in eyes and for dogs, however.
g Skin stapler – Sterile, disposable staplers can be used to treat skin tears and cuts from barbed wire. Always know how to use one before actually doing so, though; you may want to consult with your veterinarian.
g Tourniquet – Dogs require a unique tourniquet to stop bleeding. Look for a latex strap that doesn't roll or pinch and with a quick-release metal clip.

All of these items typically can be purchased at large pet supply stores or through a veterinarian.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to pack for your very first hike with kids

Error on the side of going light when day hiking.
Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil. 

If you’re new to day hiking with kids (or hiking at all), you’ll probably find that the most difficult hike to pack for is the first one. As you’re not quite certain what to bring, your tendency is to either way overpack or way underpack.

Go seek advice from a hiking guidebook, and you’ll find each author has a slightly different take on what to pack. That’s because everyone has somewhat different needs and creature comforts. What is a throwaway for one hiking parent may be an absolute necessity for you and your children.

Don’t worry: The first couple of hikes are an opportunity to figure out what you need and what you don’t.

Begin by going through the lists of what to pack in three or four hiking books. Write down what all lists have in common; these items probably include a backpack, trekking pole, canteens, walking shoes, layered clothing, first-aid kit, map, and compass, to name a few objects.

Make a second list for the items that aren’t recommended in every hiking book – these items probably include binoculars, head lamps, cords, emergency blankets – and decide if you want to carry them or not. Error on the side of going light, especially if you haven’t gone hiking in a while (or maybe never at all, shame on you!).

Then adjust on the second trip, adding items that you need. But don’t subtract anything!

After going on three or four hikes, review the list of items that not every hiking book recommended. If you haven’t used those items, seriously consider removing them from your load to help lighten it.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

What to bring on a day hike with kids

A successful hike ensures that you wear the right clothes and
bring the proper gear, navigational tools, first-aid kit and more. 

Knowing the answers to the questions that go into determining where you’ll hike – weather, trail conditions, features you’ll see there – will help you determine what kind of clothing and gear to bring. The age of your children also will play a significant role in making these decisions.

Generally, you want to go as light as possible. The more you carry, the heavier the load and so the greater the physical exertion. A lighter load also decreases the chance of injury and means you can go farther. In addition, the more you bring, the odds increase that you’ll lose or forget something.

Among the items you’ll want to consider bringing:
• Clothes – Unless a warm, sunny day, you’ll want to layer your clothing. Make sure you have hiking boots and wool socks. Headgear and sunglasses are a must on sunny days and during winter.
• Gear – If your child is an infant or toddler, you’ll want a baby carrier and a fanny pack. If you have older children, get yourself a backpack. A trekking pole also is vital.
• Navigational tools – Carry a topographical map of the area as well as a compass, even if you have GPS.
• Food and water – You’ll want to bring canteens that can hold 2 pints of water per person for every hour of hiking. Be sure to bring trail mix as well. If you have an infant, be sure to bring milk formula.
• First-aid kit – At a minimum, a first-aid kit should include adhesive bandages, antibacterial ointment, gauze bandages, medical tape, tweezers and possibly poison ivy cream.
• Sundries – Bring diapers, wet wipes, a pad, and re-sealable plastic bags for carrying the waste if your child isn’t yet potty trained. A camera also is a great idea. A safety whistle also is wise. If carrying an infant, don’t forget the pacifier.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Don't overpack on day hike with children

Travel light when day hiking.

Perhaps the biggest mistake beginning hikers make is that they pack too much gear. We live in a culture obsessed with material possessions – not just with the acquisition of them but in our overdependence on them. You’ll be surprised, however, by how little we really need, especially on an outing for a few hours.

Simply put, packing too much gear makes for too heavy of a load that quickly strains your back and shoulders, leaving you to focus more on your pain rather than the beautiful scenery around you. And should you need to carry your young child for part of the hike, you’ll soon find yourself worn out.

The best rule when hiking is to travel light.

You can start by purchasing the lightest of equipment. Day hikes allow you to sacrifice sturdiness for weight, unlike a multi-day backpacking trip or a weekend campout.

Next – and what certainly will yield the most weight loss – is to adjust your attitude toward what you need. Before packing for the hike, make a list of the gear you’ll actually need. Then ask yourself if you’ll really need it. If you didn’t need it the last time you hiked, you probably don’t need it this time around.

That being said, don’t sacrifice water, a first-aid kit, or map and compass; you need those basics for the safety of you and your child.

Perhaps the second biggest mistake beginning hikers make is that they don’t bring the right gear. Hikes with Tykes includes several chapters about clothing, gear and sundries that you’ll need for a day hiking trip. It includes a packing list and recommends what can be cut.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Consider bringing pocket mirror on hike

Should you need help when hiking, a pocket mirror can help
attract attention. Photo courtesy of eyeliam / Photoree.

When hiking with kids (or even when not!), a small 2x2 inch pocket mirror can be useful if lost.

By reflecting sunlight off it, you can signal aircraft and attract the attention of other hikers on distant trails should you need help.

Sometimes a first-aid kit comes with a reflective mirror or a space blanket can be folded to serve the same purpose, however.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Carry handy carbiners on next hike with kids

Carabiners are metal loops, vaguely shaped like a D, with a sprung or screwed gate.

You’ll find that hooking a couple of them to your back or fanny pack useful in many ways. For example, if need to dig through a fanny pack, you can hook the strap of your trekking pole to it. Your hat, camera straps, first-aid kit and a number of other objects also can connect to them.

Hook them to your fanny pack or backpack upon purchasing them, so you don’t forget them when packing. Small carabiners with sprung gates are inexpensive, but they do have a limited life span of a couple of dozen hikes.

Read more about day hiking with children in the guidebook Hikes with Tykes.