How many injuries in the outdoors?

[dport]

Wanted to ask, what kind, if any injuries the little ones have had while in the outdoors? We took our 5 month old on his first hike to a local waterfall, and it seems quite a few ppl are freaking out about it. We were very safe about it and had 4 other adults with us. I kept one large guy (240lbs) in front of me and a person on my heels, just in case. There were also 20-30 other ppl on the trail if anything were to happen, but I felt that he was compltely safe the entire time. I really think he was safer on the trail than riding in the car on the way there. So lets hear about your mishaps, close calls and lessons learned. :)

[usadventureracing]

What is wrong with people......there is more risk getting hurt in a car than most things we do. People need to get outside more and enjoy nature and quit complaining!!

[Bcghosttowns]

Just use common sense and most people will be fine,Too many people are way to worried about other peoples bussiness.
If you wrap your kids in a bubble they will never experience life.

[kjp1969]

With 3 kids, someone always gets hurt to some degree. The thing that made me beef up the first aid kit was when my daughter, then 6 years old, and I were playing on a fallen tree. It was about 4 or 5' in diameter, and lo and behold, she just fell off, straight into a pile of dead sticks. I launched off after her, fully expecting a puncture or broken arm, but she just had a skinned knee and hands.

Kids are tough, much tougher than we think. Good parents will be constantly worrying about them, but silently. Remember the worry is yours, keep it there. Don't let the possibility of an injury keep you from letting your kids challenge themselves!

[dport]

I couldn't agree more. I went into Birmingham yesterday, and on the way home I passed by 3 major wrecks. I seen one person being loaded on a backboard. I had to take our son to a Dr's appt today in a torrential downpour on flooded roads, and ppl were flying past me the whole way. I think the backyard is just as dangerous as anything else, but no one thinks that way. I have a friend who's son had been impaled through the cheek,as well as recieved shrapnel wounds from an explosion in a trash fire, all while playing in the backyard. I have def. seen more serious injuries and deaths on the highways than I have in the "outdoors".

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah, people have a very skewed sense of fear, especially with kids.

I took my kid cave exploring when he was 2. It was a very easy cave. ;) He loved it, of course! But some people look at you weird.

He's never been hurt outdoors. He's been hurt tons of times jumping on the couch, falling down the stairs, etc. etc. etc.

[Herbie]

I don't see where you're from, but based on your comments, I'll take a guess: Are people wigging out because of concerns over mountain lions?

If so, just tell 'em to relax. Keep your kids close and stay alert so you don't stumble right up on one. The frequency of human attacks is very low, but they get news... Remind your critics how many people are attacked by Moose every year. Or vending machines.

If they're freaking out over something OTHER than mountain lions, then I'm lost for an explanation (unless you're in Moose country, see above). Animals, Reptiles and (for the most part) insects aren't much of a danger in North America. We have few poisonous critters, and those that are tend to be the non-aggressive type. Biting flying insects are a problem at certain latitudes, but none of those are lethal, just ranging from annoying to painful. Human-on-human violence in such low-population areas is rare, even more so when said humans are in a group.

Sounds to me like you're doing right by your little one.

Now back on topic: Outdoor Injuries and Close calls
I got into a hornet's nest while collecting firewood once. Yuck.

I've got a bum ankle from a childhood injury so I have re-sprained it on a number of occasions, but only some of those occasions were on-trail, the others were going down stairs in suburbia.

Our little one isn't walking yet and gets carried everywhere, so she hasn't suffered any injuries yet.

[Navman]

People definitely have a skewed sense on fear. I know parents that refuse to let the kids play outside in front of their house but let them play in the swimming pool by themselves. Guess which one causes the childhood deaths.

Injuries happen everywhere so don't worry about it. My son (now 8) has friends that never go outside and every Monday my son tells them what fun things he did. He has asked me several times why his friends dads don't do that kind of stuff with their kids.

So, take them out as much as possible. They'll thank you for it.

[lowenbrau]

I think it would be reasonable to be concerned about sharing a trail with 20 to 30 other people.

You should take your family out of the city where it is safe.

[dport]

I don't see where you're from, but based on your comments, I'll take a guess: Are people wigging out because of concerns over mountain lions?

If so, just tell 'em to relax. Keep your kids close and stay alert so you don't stumble right up on one. The frequency of human attacks is very low, but they get news... Remind your critics how many people are attacked by Moose every year. Or vending machines.

If they're freaking out over something OTHER than mountain lions, then I'm lost for an explanation (unless you're in Moose country, see above). Animals, Reptiles and (for the most part) insects aren't much of a danger in North America. We have few poisonous critters, and those that are tend to be the non-aggressive type. Biting flying insects are a problem at certain latitudes, but none of those are lethal, just ranging from annoying to painful. Human-on-human violence in such low-population areas is rare, even more so when said humans are in a group.

Sounds to me like you're doing right by your little one.

Now back on topic: Outdoor Injuries and Close calls
I got into a hornet's nest while collecting firewood once. Yuck.

I've got a bum ankle from a childhood injury so I have re-sprained it on a number of occasions, but only some of those occasions were on-trail, the others were going down stairs in suburbia.

Our little one isn't walking yet and gets carried everywhere, so she hasn't suffered any injuries yet.

I'm in central AL, no Mtn lion concerns here, atleast that anyone knows about. There are a cpl mtn lions here, but 99% of ppl don't believe it. People are just scared of anything, I guess they're the same ppl who won't get further than 5 miles from home without a cellphone and a car with less than 60K miles on it

[dport]

I think it would be reasonable to be concerned about sharing a trail with 20 to 30 other people.

You should take your family out of the city where it is safe.

We were in a large nice state park that is surrounded by suburbia. We haven't got him too far into the wilderness yet, but hope to in the next month.:)

[Bernie]

Yeah, people have a very skewed sense of fear, especially with kids.



This.

I was that way with my first child, the first ow, scream, tears, I was there like fricken Batman, first responder bag in hand. By the third one it was, If its not an arterial bleed or a compound fracture, put a band aid on it.

[matt s]

People here think your weird if you leave the kids behind. One of first purchases was a baby backpack for hiking.

Injuries so far, nothing a band aid didn't cure.

[datrupr]

My daughter has never had an incident when we were in the wild. She has gotten more owies from home or the school playground. When my son comes, as soon as he can hold his head up we are going on bumpies to a nice secluded spot in the wild.

[Ruffin' It]

I'm with everyone else - serve as an example to others of what you can do with your kids, not what you can't. You are the kind of dad that all the other kids are wishing they had. The kids that are sitting at home on the couch slowly going diabetic from junk food and video games are at much more risk.


Wanted to ask, what kind, if any injuries the little ones have had while in the outdoors? We took our 5 month old on his first hike to a local waterfall, and it seems quite a few ppl are freaking out about it. We were very safe about it and had 4 other adults with us. I kept one large guy (240lbs) in front of me and a person on my heels, just in case. There were also 20-30 other ppl on the trail if anything were to happen, but I felt that he was compltely safe the entire time. I really think he was safer on the trail than riding in the car on the way there. So lets hear about your mishaps, close calls and lessons learned. :)

[dport]

Def. agree with you about the couch potato kids, It's really sad to see them. I'm already trying to change my eating/excercise habits before he i old enough to notice that daddy doesn't eat enough veggies.

[Mr. Leary]

If you wrap your kids in a bubble they will never experience life.

I completely agree.

Those folks who raise their kids in bubbles are not fulfilling the basic duty of parenthood... to produce viable, self sufficient offspring. Let them snicker, and hope that their kids one day discover that there are better ways to live.

[Harald Hansen]

My kids (5 and 2) are outside a lot, and as far as I can remember they've only had scrapes and bruises. There's not usually much crying when it happens either, as they're soon off to look at something interesting or play with the other kids who are along etc.

In the industrialised world, traffic is the most dangerous thing for kids, followed by drowning, fires and burns. Here's a story on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98055567).

[R_Lefebvre]

Def. agree with you about the couch potato kids, It's really sad to see them. I'm already trying to change my eating/excercise habits before he i old enough to notice that daddy doesn't eat enough veggies.

Ha! My son got ME to eat Brocolli. I'm not a veggie eater either. But one day I was just watching him scarf down some steamed brocolli, and I said "Is it really that good?" So I tried some, and found I rather like steamed brocolli with butter. Never had it before. My mother always had it raw, which I don't like.

[craig333]

Rarely seen more than cuts bumps and bruises camping. Same stuff that happens everywhere. Usually you can head off the tears by distracting them "hey, see that squirrel over there?".

Saddest thing I ever saw was when we had our annual camping trip, kids and even babies present. GF of one of the guys shows up with her five year old. She couldn't believe kids were allowed to play in the dirt. After about two hours she said her child was scared and she left. We're all just "wtf did we just witness?". I really wonder what that kid is going to grow up like.

[R_Lefebvre]

I have to admit... last summer was the first time Phil played in the *mud*. We stopped to have a winchfest on the trail, and I let him out. At first I was trying to keep him clean, but after a while I realized it was futile to try to stop him, and natural that he was allowed to. He had a great time.

I just want to get seat covers for the truck and then... meh, whatever.

[riverdog]

Anything can happen, when I was a kid on our first camping trip, I was one at the time. My dad had rented a pop-up for the first time. I managed to loosen up the fold away step while playing after breakfast one morning. Out comes mom with the hot skillet of grease, thats right, all over my back. Never slowed us down as far as I know, I am 45 now and have camped since then. Take my kids hiking, camping, riverfishing or wherever I go. Could something happen, sure, but I know for a fact, chicks dig scars. And they like the stories that go with them to.

[Ray Hyland]

All three of our boys literally grew up from about 4 months old each camping in the tropical rain forests of SE Asia. Everything there will bite you, sting you, or try to eat you. Everything from Panthers to Crocs. That said, they have never had worse than a bump or a scrape or a leech bite. Nowadays (aged 8, 9 and 10) they will just pluck a leech off and go by themselves to get a bandaid from the first aid kit.

I think that growing up in the wild will prevent them from growing into one of those people who "look at you funny when you bring little kids into the wild".

Take your kids everywhere. Prepare for everything. Be safe but not restrictive. Have fun.

Ray


www.hylandadventures.com

[dport]

We'll see what kind of looks I get this week when I mod the bike trailer in order to mount his carseat to it. :Wow1:

[Fireman78]

Wanted to ask, what kind, if any injuries the little ones have had while in the outdoors? We took our 5 month old on his first hike to a local waterfall, and it seems quite a few ppl are freaking out about it. We were very safe about it and had 4 other adults with us. I kept one large guy (240lbs) in front of me and a person on my heels, just in case. There were also 20-30 other ppl on the trail if anything were to happen, but I felt that he was compltely safe the entire time. I really think he was safer on the trail than riding in the car on the way there. So lets hear about your mishaps, close calls and lessons learned. :)

I love when people tell me how to raise my kids. Bring it on. I've been hiking and swimming and rappelling, camping, rafting with my kids forever. I even took her into a cool waterfall/slide/thing in Capital Reef at 1 year old, which got lots of looks, as does taking a 2 year old rafting. I say.. don't worry about it at all. In fact, you can say.. "Let me introduce you to my friend NUNYA". So far no injuries bad enough I can remember. :) In fact.. just had a parent teacher confrence with my 10 year old daughters gifted teacher and he said, "It's pretty obvious your daughter is a well rounded, well travelled individual with exceptionall leadership skills". I COULDN'T be happier.

[dport]

I love when people tell me how to raise my kids. Bring it on. I've been hiking and swimming and rappelling, camping, rafting with my kids forever. I even took her into a cool waterfall/slide/thing in Capital Reef at 1 year old, which got lots of looks, as does taking a 2 year old rafting. I say.. don't worry about it at all. In fact, you can say.. "Let me introduce you to my friend NUNYA". So far no injuries bad enough I can remember. :) In fact.. just had a parent teacher confrence with my 10 year old daughters gifted teacher and he said, "It's pretty obvious your daughter is a well rounded, well travelled individual with exceptionall leadership skills". I COULDN'T be happier.

That's great! I wish more people would understand that kids need to be outside more, and not just on a playing field.

[Root Moose]

Agree. Kinds aren't allowed to be "just kids" any more it seems. I have to say it is much more "normal" out here in the hinterland than it was when we lived in the city though. Most people have a good sense of priorities it seems - when you have to be selective about what to enroll your kids into due to time/distance the decisions are more logical.

[Fireman78]

I grew up on a farm. I was chopping wood, driving tractors , shooting gophers, raisin' cows, chickens, ect, basically helping out around the place since I was about 5 years old, or since I can remember. That ethic just stuck with me. Allthough I no longer live a farm life, I do raise my kids in the way. Living in the woods, out of the city, away from all that crap-ola. Kids need the wilderness, whether it's desert, swamp, forest, whatever. Anything but concrete!!! It's OK for kids to get hurts while playing outside.. it's part of growing up.

[dport]

Well, we have encountered several small injuries in the past 3 weeks. All of them on me. Me and my new Mt. Bike keep getting into fights. Bike - 4, me- 0 :bike_rider: