Avoid potential hazards and threats to your health: 

• Share your plans. Tell someone where and when you are going, when you expect to return and how many individuals are in your party.

• Know your limits. Be in appropriate physical condition for your planned activity.

• Stay on developed trails or dry, solid rock areas with good footing. Think about your footing while traveling near cliffs.

• Trees and bushes can’t be trusted to hold you.

• Set a comfortable pace as you hike or travel along a waterway. A group trip should be designed for the least experienced or capable member of the group.

• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the trail conditions and season, or for the activity you have planned. For example, if you are working in the water, you may want to be wearing hip waders if the water is not known to be safe for human contact.

• Be weather wise. Keep an eye on current and predicted weather conditions.

• Learn basic first aid. Know how to identify and treat injuries and illnesses. Carry a first aid kit with you.

• Watch your step. Be alert for slippery areas and take your time to avoid tripping. Low-hanging branches and variable terrain make running unsafe. Leaves can hide slippery areas underneath. Log crossings can be especially dangerous. Find alternate routes across streams.

• If you will be in the water, check the health of the stream, lake, or river before you go. Are there any health advisories - such as E. coli counts - published on the  Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Water Health Portal? Your local health department may also help you determine if your water is safe for contact. See this link for a list of Kentucky Health Department locations.

First Aid Kit suggestions 

• Adhesive bandages ("Band-aids")

• Sterile gauze (some gauze pads as well as a roll of gauze) 

• Elastic wrap for sprains

• Antiseptic (Betadine, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide)

• Tweezers

• Scissors

• Digital thermometer

• Antibacterial and antifungal ointments/creams

• 1% hydrocortisone cream

• Moleskin to prevent blisters

• Aloe gel for sunburns

• Lubricating eye drops

• First aid quick reference card

Tips for working along the river 

• Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to return, and where to call if you don’t.

• NEVER BOAT ALONE. Be sure your whitewater/boating skills and experience are equal to the river and the conditions.

• Wear a properly fitted Personal Flotation Device (PFD) (aka "lifejacket") at all times when you are in or near the river.

• Know your limits of swimmers rescue and self rescue on whitewater rivers. Know when and how to swim for an eddy.

• Be prepared for extremes in weather, especially cold. Know about the dangers of hypothermia and how to deal with it. Know early signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration in hot weather.

• Reduce the threat of injury by wearing protective footwear and proper clothing (such as long sleeves for sun protection).

• Remember that the sun's rays are usually more intense around water.

• Carry a first aid kit and know how to use it. Learn or review medical aid responsibilities and CPR.

• When the water is high on the river - especially after a huge rainfall - DO NOT ENTER THE RIVER OR BE AROUND THE RIVER.

For more information: https://www.friendsoftheriver.org/2016/01/26/11-tips-for-river-safety/#:~:text=Wear%20a%20properly%20fitted%20Personal,extremes%20in%20weather%2C%20especially%20cold. 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r8/recreation/safety-ethics/?cid=fsbdev3_066389 

• Doxing (also spelled doxxing) is the act of revealing identifying information about someone online, such as their real name, home address, workplace, phone, financial, and other personal information. That information is then circulated to the public — without the victim's permission.

• It is increasingly being used by hate groups to harass and discredit people. They sometimes call up employees or former coworkers to try to get more information or to create an atmosphere of harassment.

Therefore, if anyone whom you do not know or trust cold calls you or otherwise contacts you about another person - 

1. Do not give out ANY information about anyone you work with.

2. Limit your contact with the person contacting you & stay completely neutral - but do write down any info you can gather about the stranger contacting you (e.g., phone number, name, or email or any information you can easily gather -- don't linger or prolong the conversation though)

3. Put any information you gathered into a written form in case it is needed in any legal action.

4. Do not answer or respond to any future contacts from the individual who is a potential doxer.

When working with the public around matters of water and other topics impacting our daily lives, emotions can run high. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when confronted with an emotional or aggressive individual.

• Active listening: Maintaining eye contact and nodding occasionally can let the individual know that you are attentively listening to their concerns. Show validation for their feelings and acknowledge what they are sharing. Show empathy and compassion for the individual.

• Non-threatening body language: Hold a pose that will indicate you are not aggressive. Having a relaxed posture and keeping a safe distance can help display this message. It is also good to have your arms and hands open, not closed off. 

• Remain composed: Speak in a calm steady tone while using respectful language when regarding the individual and their feelings. Keeping low volume can also help keep things under control. Show emotional control as well as control of your facial expression and breathing pattern. 

• Prioritize safety: Remember that not all conflicts can be resolved quickly. Make sure you are staying aware of the escalation level and be prepared to seek help or get others away from the aggressor if things do not calm quickly. 

See creating and sharing ground rules about respect and participation