Hiking Emergency Essentials: What to Carry and What to Do

Q: What is the single most important emergency item to carry hiking?

A communication plan. Tell someone your route and return time before every hike -- this single action is what makes you findable if something goes wrong. After that, a headlamp (more emergencies involve being caught out after dark than any other scenario) and an emergency shelter are the highest-impact physical items.

Q: Do I need a satellite communicator for day hikes?

Not for most day hikes on popular, well-marked trails. For remote trails, solo hiking in technical terrain, or areas with no cell coverage, a Garmin inReach Mini or PLB is worthwhile. The inReach Mini 2 weighs 3.5 oz and costs $1/day on the recreational plan -- a reasonable investment for remote adventures.

Q: What should I do if someone in my group gets hurt on the trail?

Keep the group together, treat immediately for life-threatening conditions (major bleeding, airway), activate emergency communication, send the fastest hiker to cell coverage if no satellite device is available, document the injury and location, and stay warm while waiting. Never leave an injured person alone except as a last resort to get help.

The ten essentials plus emergency protocols every hiker should know before hitting the trail.

8 min read

Most hiking emergencies are preventable. The ones that are not are survivable when you carry the right gear and know how to use it. The 10 Essentials framework has guided hikers for 90 years -- here is the modern interpretation for 2025.

The 10 Essentials (Modern System)

Navigation -- downloaded offline map (Gaia GPS or AllTrails), compass, and paper map of your route
Sun protection -- SPF 30+ sunscreen, UV-blocking sunglasses, sun hat
Insulation -- extra layers beyond what you need; hypothermia can occur at 50 degrees F in wet conditions
Illumination -- headlamp with fresh batteries (or a backup battery bank); never hike to sunset without one
First aid kit -- pre-assembled kit with blister care, wound closure strips, pain relievers, and any personal medications
Fire -- waterproof matches or a lighter, plus a fire-starting cube for wet conditions
Repair tools and knife -- multi-tool or knife, duct tape, gear repair tape
Nutrition -- one day's extra food beyond your planned consumption
Hydration -- extra water plus a filter or purification tablets
Emergency shelter -- bivy sack, emergency space blanket, or tarp; weighs 3-6 oz and can save your life

Emergency Communication Options

In order of reliability:

Garmin inReach Mini 2 or similar satellite communicator -- two-way messaging and SOS from anywhere on earth ($350 + subscription)
Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) -- one-way SOS only, no subscription fee, registered to your name ($250-350)
Cell phone -- works on many trails; download your map offline before leaving cell coverage
Whistle -- three blasts is the universal distress signal; audible over distances where voices are not

If You Get Lost

Stop moving the moment you realize you are unsure of your location
Calm down -- most hikers are found within 24 hours when a trip plan was filed
Look for the last known landmark on your map and work backward
If truly lost, stay put -- rescue teams search where you were last known to be, not where you wandered
Make yourself visible and audible: whistle blasts, bright gear, signal mirror

Handling a Trail Injury

For any injury severe enough to prevent self-rescue: activate your emergency communication device, stay warm and sheltered, signal for help visually and audibly, and have your exact location (trail name, GPS coordinates, landmark description) ready. Treat for shock (keep flat, insulate from ground) while waiting for rescue.