What do you bring with you to insure your safety while on a trail or at your destination?
I want to talk a little about personal protection, whether you are pro-gun or anti-gun you need to be able to protect yourself.
Self Protection Pepper Sprays
Pepper are one of the most common self defense products. It is lightweight, easy to carry, you don't need a special license and it is easy to use. Bear spray is great to keep with you as well, depending on where you are traveling bear spray can be used as protection from a person or a bear.
Electric Stun Gun
There are many different options of stun guns on the market, when choosing one be sure to select one that fits in the palm hand. Stun guns come in a variety of options, you can pick one that will look like a cell phone, flashlight or even one that looks like a lipstick case. A stun gun will give you peace of mind that you can immobilize your attacker and give you time to get help or run to a safe place.
Firearms
There are many options and opinions on this topic and I am not going to go into pros and cons or try to change your mind or beliefs on the subject. I will tell you that if you are considering carrying a firearm it is best to try before you buy. Most ranges will allow you to rent a gun to try it out and see how it fits and feels. Do not make a selection based on what your partner or friend carries, a 9mm may be fine for your friend but may be too hard for you to slide. You also want to select a model that is right for your use, in other words a .22 might not be a great option if you have an encounter with a wild animal or a wild person. I recommend attending a gun safety class, where you can often sample different models as well, talk about what your needs are and what your level of confidence is (if there is interest we can discuss creating an event).
Communication
You probably have a cell phone and you probably know that it does not always work on a trail or in the mountains. Consider carrying a walkie talkie (GMRS) radio or even a satellite phone. You want to be able to get some kind of communication out in the event you have a major incident.
This is just the tip of what can be a long list of personal safety items. What do you bring with you?
*information taken from beststungun.com & NRA The Best Gun for Camping, Backpacking and Hiking. I am in no way affiliated with either of these pages.
Hi Theresa, welcome! I agree with @Dan Cronin - great topic. We bring:
> at least 2 bear sprays, we own 3.
> HAM radio 146.460 with a 50watt Icom ID-4100a.
> CB radio - not good range but sometimes commonly listened to.
> 2 dogs - we like to think our black lab mix and Australian Cattle Dog will come to our defense if needed.
> first aid kit; first aid / AED / CPR training.
> wisdom / experience - the more time outside, the more knowledge and skills we acquire from others and practice firsthand.
Great topic, Theresa. For my safety and the safety of others in my vehicle, I bring the following:
S@W M@P 9MM Shield 2 with hollow point rounds.
HAM Radio 146.46
GMRS (soon to be installed).
Sat Phone.
My Medic first aid and trauma kit.
Those are my basics. Long trips, I will bring my AR-15 w/30 RD Mags.
Overkill for some, but investment for me.
Dan