Field Trip Health & Safety Info Sheet Field Trip Extras please feel free to add to this list....
In addition to your protective clothing & your rockhounding equipment, we recommend a bunch of extras:
Food & Water
Always pack some kind of food and water.
water water water
Stay hydrated - extra water is critical for hot days.
Please bring a minimum of 4 bottles of water for yourself.
If very hot weather or a full-day field trip, then better to bring 8 bottles
Water bottles can be frozen the night before (also a heat beater).
Canteens are handy - camelbacks are even handier.
Some sites are in the middle of nowhere (hence, food is inaccessible).
Veggie / fruity lunch & snacks are best (when weather is hot).
Meats & nuts (‘coz “high” protein) can make you hotter (great when weather is cooler or rainy).
Even though nuts can make you hotter, it’s a good idea to a have a few salted ones on you anyway - sweating makes you lose salt - and salt loss can be as dangerous as heat stroke.
Really handy extras (recommended, too)
Don’t forget your maps!
Sun + hot weather
sunscreen (recommended minimum of 30 / 40 SPF)
sunglasses
Chap Stick (better with sun block)
wide-brimmed hat / sun hat / scarves (straw hats & cotton scarves breathe)
Wear a sweat band on your forehead - scarves work fine.
You can always keep the scarf wet - which also helps to keep you cool.
Or scarves can be used as a sun shade - works well with hard hats.
(additional info sheet with detailed info)
Bring a spray bottle of water - can keep you cooler.
If you add lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil to the spray, tends to keep you even cooler + added benefit of the essential oils are insect repellents.
portable chair (with pillow for comfort)
Beating the bugs
insect repellent (additional info sheet with detailed info)
Injuries
small, portable, personal First Aid Kit
Inclement weather
sweater
jacket - both a light windbreaker and a (preferably waterproof) jacket.
rain coat or poncho
Wellingtons or galoshes
cold-weather gloves
socks (best are cotton) (particularly for safety boots).
If very wet and/or foul weather, have a change of clothing.
A change of clothing is also handy after a dusty and/or hot day of rockhounding.