QUESTION: Outdoor safety: how to avoid bites and burns?

Safety during outdoor recreation requires an integrated approach, especially when it comes to protection against insect bites and burns from poisonous plants or the scorching sun. To minimize risks, it is recommended to apply a balanced approach to time planning and protective measures, which is similar to the seventy-thirty rule, where the bulk of efforts is directed at prevention, and the remaining part goes to spontaneous rest and adaptation to the conditions.

To protect against bites from ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects, you need to properly choose clothing for trips to the forest or field. Trousers should be tucked into socks, sleeve cuffs should fit tightly against the wrists, and a headwear and repellents will become a mandatory barrier. At the same time, seventy percent of attention is paid to thorough equipment and regular body checks every two hours, and thirty percent is left for relaxed contemplation of nature in safe camping areas.

As for protection against burns, the main danger here comes from both sunlight and plants like giant hogweed. Be sure to use sunscreens with a high protection factor, reapplying them every two hours, and avoid touching unfamiliar vegetation. Fix mandatory points for applying protective equipment in your route plan, and leave thirty percent of the time for unhurried breaks in the shade of spreading trees.