Use Your Rescue Laser in North Carolina

From the Blue Ridge to the Great Smokies, North Carolina has some of the country's best hikes. Whether you're heading out for a day or thru-hiking, take safety precautions — you never know what can happen on the trail. Use this hiking safety guide as a checklist before your next hike.

Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back

As a "just in case" precaution, it's important that you tell someone when and where you're hiking. Text a friend, leave a note at home, or post to social media. This way, someone can alert the authorities if you don't come back in time.

Bring the 10 Essentials

The 10 essentials on a hiker's packing list help you stay safe on a hike. Items on this list include: 

1. Your Rescue Laser Light
2. Food and water
3. A flashlight or headlamp
4. Navigation
5. Appropriate footwear
6. Rain gear and extra layers
7. Insect repellent and sunscreen
8. A first aid kit
9. Matches or a lighter
10. A knife or multi tool

Add gear to your backpack depending on the season, weather, and length of your hike. For instance, a water purification system is a good idea for multi-day hikes.

These ten items will help you stay warm, dry, hydrated, and fed if you become lost or hurt on your hike. They may also help you find safety. Choose wool or synthetic clothing rather than cotton; these fabrics will keep you warm even if they get wet. Synthetics may wick sweat away from your skin, so you don't get chilled as sweat cools on your body. Hypothermia is a risk when hiking in North Carolina throughout the year, not just in winter.

Carry a Rescue Laser

If you became lost on a hike, how would you signal for help? A rescue laser can be seen for more than 30 miles. it's the perfect way to send a distress signal if you get lost or injured. Rescue lasers allow you to aim over a wide swath of sky when signaling for a plane, vs. a traditional laser pointer that would require you to precisely signal the target—a near impossible feat!

Carry a Survival Whistle

Along with a laser, take a survival whistle on your hikes. Survival whistles are ultra-loud, and thus capable of carrying through the woods much farther than a human voice. Whistles can also help your group reunite if you become separated on the trail. By complementing a visual signal with an auditory signal, you can double your chances of summoning help if you need it.

Bring a Phone

Chances are, you bring your smartphone on a hike hoping to take pictures. The phone may also help you call for help if you need it, but only along certain sections of the trail. A satellite phone receives reception where cell phones fail. This may be a better solution for thru hikers, since satellite phones are expensive.

Be Safe Out There!

Carry these safety items like our Rescue Laser to enjoy peace of mind and be able to signal for help if something goes wrong on the trail.