Most trouble outdoors is preventable, and the habits that prevent it are small. Start with the basics that apply everywhere: tell someone your route and return time, carry water and a light, keep your phone charged and download offline maps because coverage drops in hollows and canyons. Then use the sections below for the kind of day you have planned. For storms, flash floods, heat and cold water, see Outdoor safety.
Swimming and water play
- Choose a place with a lifeguard when you can, and never swim alone. Small children need an adult within arm’s reach, not just nearby.
- Most lakes, rivers and creeks here have no lifeguard. Water is often cold enough in spring and fall to cause cold-water shock, which can make even strong swimmers gasp and sink in the first minute.
- Do not dive into water you cannot see through. Submerged stumps, ledges and shallow shelves are common.
- Stay away from the water below dams. Flows can rise quickly when water is released, so heed horns and sirens and check TVA lake information.
- Wear a life jacket in moving water or on open lakes, and skip alcohol before you swim.
- Follow posted advisories and closures. The CDC drowning prevention pages have more.
Boating and paddling
- In Alabama, anyone 12 or older who runs a motorized boat needs a boater education certificate. Operators who are 12 or 13 must be supervised by an adult 21 or older. Details and the approved course are on the Alabama boating law summary.
- Carry a wearable life jacket for every person aboard, and wear it. Alabama has extra requirements for young children, so check the current rules before you go.
- Boating under the influence carries the same penalties as impaired driving. Pick a sober operator.
- Leave a float plan with someone, check the forecast, and head in before storms build. Navigation lights are required after dark.
- Paddlers: dress for the water temperature, not the air. Stay off low-head dams and watch for strainers, which are downed trees that let water through but not people.
Hiking
- Pick a route that matches the slowest person in your group. Set a turn-around time before you start, and keep to it.
- Pack water, a light, layers, snacks, a first aid kit and a paper or offline map. Cotton keeps you cold when wet.
- Wet rock, creek crossings and waterfall edges cause many serious falls. Stay behind barriers and on marked trails, and do not climb around falls.
- Give snakes space. Copperheads and rattlesnakes are present across North Alabama. Watch where you put hands and feet, step on logs rather than over them, and never handle a snake.
- Check for ticks after every hike. Insect repellent and long pants help.
- If you are lost, stop, stay put and call for help. A moving lost hiker is harder to find. Land managers such as Forever Wild publish safety guidance for their tracts.
Climbing
- Learn from a qualified instructor or guide before you lead or build anchors. Gym skills do not automatically transfer to outdoor rock.
- Wear a helmet, tie in with a checked knot, and do a partner check every time. Double-check anchors and the end of the rope.
- Sandstone loses strength when wet. Wait until rock is dry after rain, and test holds before you commit.
- Many climbing areas are on private or protected land and stay open because climbers follow access rules. Check with a local group such as the Southeastern Climbers Coalition before you go.
- Do not free-climb bluffs or cave walls. Keep people clear of the base while others climb, because falling rock is a risk.
Hunting
- Anyone born on or after August 1, 1977 must complete hunter education before buying an Alabama hunting license, unless exempt or hunting under the supervision provision. The Alabama hunter education office is Outdoor Alabama.
- During gun deer season, wear a vest or cap with at least 144 square inches of solid hunter orange, visible from all sides. Hunters in stands 12 feet or more off the ground do not need orange in the stand but must wear it going to and from.
- Wear a full-body harness whenever you climb or sit in a tree stand, and keep it attached to the tree. Use three points of contact on the ladder. Most serious stand accidents happen going up or down.
- Treat every firearm as loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
- If you are not hunting, wear bright colors on public land and trails during any hunting season.
After dark
- Carry a headlamp and a backup light. Know the sunset time and plan to finish before it.
- Stay on routes you already know. Cliff edges, water and sinkholes are hard to see by flashlight.
- Park in a lit area where you can, lock the car, and keep valuables out of sight. Trailhead break-ins are the most common crime at recreation areas.
- Many parks lock their gates at closing time. Check the hours so you are not shut in.
- Share your live location with someone you trust. Hunters, hog and raccoon chasers and spotlighters are out at night on private and public land, so wear reflective or bright gear.
Everything else
- Caves and sinkholes. Do not enter wild caves without experience, three lights each and a partner. Some caves are closed to protect bats, and gear carried between caves can spread white-nose syndrome. Stay clear of sinkhole edges and old mine shafts.
- Wildlife. Feral hogs, coyotes and the occasional black bear are best left alone. Keep dogs on leash and food stored.
- Campfires and stoves. Put fires out until cold to the touch. Never run a stove, heater or grill inside a tent or camper because carbon monoxide kills.
- ATVs and bikes. Wear a helmet and ride only where it is permitted.
- Emergencies. Call 911. If you cannot get through, move to higher ground or open sky and try again, or send a text. Share your location with the dispatcher.