With the festive season around the corner, many outdoor adventure lovers will be going on hikes and camping excursions.

The Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism hosted a hiker safety workshop at Klipspringer Lodge on Saturday, November 2. It incorporated three essential programmes, including snake education, search-and-rescue tips when hiking and a first aid level one training course.

Annecke van Schoor of Lowveld Venom Suppliers encouraged locals to educate themselves about the snakes common to the Lowveld, especially the venomous ones, while her colleague, Jaco Rothner, displayed a few snakes around the attendees. “Snake education includes how to handle them if they enter your premises. It is also important to know how to react when bitten by a snake, which is to let go of the reptile, seek medical help and call a trained snake handler for assistance,” she said.

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The South African Search and Rescue’s Lowveld chairperson, Andrew Geldenhuys, shared some useful tips on how to survive while hiking or camping in the bush. He said hiking in groups is the best option, with navigators and a personal first aid kit.

“The best way to handle a situation when you’re lost during a hike is to go to the highest point to get signal and alert authorities. If you’re in a group, do not split up to find help. If someone is injured, it is best to go back to the starting point or your destination to seek help, depending which is nearer. However, should someone get injured, do not leave the person alone, rather alert the search-and-rescue services to assist,” Geldenhuys said.

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He advised hikers to be mindful of weather patterns prior to going on a hike.

The Occupational Health and Safety Institute of South Africa also conducted a first aid level one training course, after which the trainees each received a certificate.