Angling Times Weekly Issue 61 Issue 70 | Page 37

It is important to try to foresee the potential dangers and plan for them. “” Sun exposure, boating, water currents, slippery rocks, insect bites, snakebites, wild animals, fishhooks, poisonous plants, cliffs and weather are some of the dangers that provide adventure to the child and gray hairs to the parent. Some areas even have traffic dangers that might not be too obvious, especially on or near mountain roads with blind curves. Sunscreen, good sunglasses, life vests (when boating or if poor swimmers are fishing on a dock or near swift current), buddy systems Angling Times Weekly SA 37 (everyone travels in pairs or groups),safe insect repellent, emergency whistles, proper food handling and storage, adequate amounts of food and water, proper clothing, proper instruction, soap, a first aid kit and a watchful eye are all necessary to help keep an adventurous outing from ending in injury or tragedy. Checking with the rangers or other authorities in the area where you'll be fishing can provide priceless, but free, information about local dangers and how to avoid them. The adult must know how to identify and avoid dangers in order to help a child avoid them. The adult must also know how to provide first aid in case prevention doesn't work and the child is injured or exposed to poisonous plants. A very useful item for snakebites and insect bites is a syringe-style snakebite kit. www.anglingtimes.co.za