What places are the most dangerous to be in? Crowd: rules of conduct in a crowd

Our planet is amazing in its scale, but there are so many small exotic corners on Earth that can be destructive. In such places, people are constantly faced with natural disasters, martial law, numerous murders, robberies and drunken brawls. For some localities, such a situation in their hometown or village has become the norm. For those who like to travel, this article may be educational; we will give you advice on where it is better not to go on vacation.

Panama City

Panama has one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world. The capital, Panama City, is “teeming” with numerous murders, robbery and violence. About 10 thousand people are killed here in one year. The city's population does not exceed one million people. We recommend not to walk in areas located far from the center.
Scientists call the Danakil Desert a dry ocean; there are large salt deposits and potassium reserves here. Peace reigns here, there are no settlements and few animals due to constant volcanic eruptions, low humidity, high temperatures (air - 63 ° C, and soil - 70 ° C), toxic fumes, oil and acid lakes.

Federal Republic of Somalia

The consequences of the civil war are the almost complete destruction of Somalia as a single state. Constant conflicts, which are not used to being resolved in a civilized manner, have made cities unsuitable for a normal, calm and moderate life. There is no stability or security in this place. In Somalia, you rarely see guides and tourists walking around with cameras.

The cannibal capital of Port Moresby

Port Moresby is located in New Guinea and is famous for its crime scene. The concept of “raskolism” originates from this city, because youth raskol gangs first appeared here; their priority was such activities as theft from cars, hijackings, vandalism, murder and rape. The criminal subculture is strongly ingrained in modern society in the cities of New Guinea, especially Port Moresby.

Ukrainian city of Pripyat

Pripyat is located in Ukraine and is considered a ghost town. In 1986, a terrible nuclear power plant disaster occurred in this place, which took many lives. For the first few days, residents of nearby settlements did not even suspect that a radiation leak had occurred in Pripyat. Currently, the uninhabitable area of ​​the city is fenced off and is under protection.

Death Road in Bolivia

The Bolivian province of Yungas is a very poor place. Tourists are attracted not by the town itself, but by the road of death, which is located in the Andes Mountains, a dangerous section 60 kilometers long located at an altitude of 3650 meters above sea level. Every year, approximately 400 people die in car accidents while trying to get home or to the capital La Paz.

African Cape Town

Cape Town is an incredibly beautiful and picturesque place. But the crime rate exceeds all acceptable standards. Travel guides strongly discourage tourists from visiting Cape Town, even just passing through. The outskirts of the city are considered a particularly dangerous area, where tourists are interested in pickpockets and slave traders. Cape Town also remains the leader in the number of rapes and HIV infections.

Summit of Mount Washington

Mount Washington is an amazingly beautiful creation of nature, but its summit is extremely dangerous. This place is recognized as the windiest in the world, the wind speed reaches 372 km/h. For inexperienced novice tourists, this trip can end in a deadly battle with wildlife.

Quicksand fjord Tarnagen

Tarnagen Fjord is famous for its deadly quicksand, which has claimed many lives. Tarnagen Fjord is 60 kilometers long and located in Alaska. The story of two newlyweds who decided to look at the quicksand at low tide ended tragically. First, their car got stuck in a sand trap. The young people decided to figure it out without the help of a tow truck and got out of the car. When they realized that they were sinking into the sand too quickly, they called rescuers, but by the time they arrived, the girl was already dead, and the guy was saved.

Queimada Grande Island

The island is located 35 kilometers off the coast of the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The main inhabitants of the wild island are poisonous snakes. The poison of the island bothrops can kill a person in a matter of minutes, causing tissue necrosis. Visiting the island is now prohibited in order to avoid numerous deaths from poisonous snake bites, as well as to protect rare flora and fauna.

Massive noisy events probably attract many people. These include holiday concerts and fairs, football matches, etc. There are always a lot of people present at these events. Before the start of a concert or any other holiday, everyone behaves calmly. At this time, people are peaceful, polite, and let each other through at the entrance. In anticipation of an exciting spectacle, they are calm and unhurried. However, after the event ends, everything changes.

Everyone immediately leaves their seats and rushes towards the exit. This contributes to the formation of a large influx of people and constant traffic jams. It also happens that the movement of people goes from orderly to spontaneous, and a crowd forms. Everyone needs to know the rules of behavior in a crowd. They represent a set of measures that will help maintain safety in places where there are large crowds of people.

Facts from history

Humanity knows cases when a large number of people died in crowded spontaneous stampedes. A striking example of such a tragedy is the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. The crush happened on Khodynka Field. Here a crowd of thousands rushed to the place where refreshments were being distributed. As a result, more than one thousand people died and were injured.

Monstrous stampedes also occurred during Stalin’s funeral. Then not only a large number of people died. The crowd also crushed the horses there, on which the police officers who were keeping order were sitting.

Causes of crowds

When does a large number of people become dangerous? A crowd forms when panic or general aggression occurs. Moreover, these two reasons are closely related.

The crowd has its own characteristics. She is characterized by unconsciousness, impulsiveness and instinctivity. The crowd has no logic. The people in it live at this moment only by feelings. The so-called herd instinct, which cannot be controlled, comes into play. This is especially pronounced when there is no leader in the crowd and no one gives any restraining commands. Tens, hundreds, thousands of people are losing their individuality. They literally turn into a terrible multi-headed beast, sweeping away and destroying everything that gets in its way. This is the main feature of crowd behavior.

For what reason does the human mass become “explosive”? To do this, she needs a certain psychological detonator. It is often general hysteria, the emergence of which is provoked by mass protests or, on the contrary, a demonstration of a loyal mood. The reason for the formation of a crowd can be fear caused, for example, by a fire or any other disaster. A mass of people sweeping away everything in its path often occurs after an overly emotional football match or an unprofessionally conducted rock concert.

in crowd

The list of reasons that turn a crowd of people into an uncontrollable mass is, unfortunately, very long. Often those who find themselves in it are later themselves perplexed by their own behavior. The explanation in this case should be sought in the distant past, turning to the primitive instincts of man. They explain the emergence of mass psychosis. This behavior helped people survive in distant and harsh times.

The herd instinct, like any other atavism, is dangerous for the human collective today. The only thing that can resist him is the mind. Any of us, finding ourselves in an aggressive crowd, must try not to succumb to its general negative feeling. However, it is worth keeping in mind that this uncontrollable mass does not tolerate “apostates” and can brutally deal with those who have not succumbed to psychosis. Maintaining your individuality in a crowd is not at all easy. After all, the real human sea is simply going nowhere. However, there is no choice. Without preserving your own individuality, you can lose not only the appearance of a person, but also your life. The mercilessness of the crowd manifests itself not only in relation to those who disagree, but also towards its ordinary members.

Uncontrolled flow in a confined space

During any concert or crowd may form. It is important for everyone to know the rules of behavior in a crowd in a closed room, because a general change of mood can occur, for example, when someone screams heart-rendingly: “Fire!” For people who come to have a good time, their mood suddenly changes from positive to negative. Extreme stress arises. All people in a confined space simultaneously begin to look for a way out in order to get to a safe place. Of course, everything that happens is chaotic. Unfortunately, this happens in most cases.

The people who are farthest from the exit are the most active. They begin to press on those in front. The result is very sad. More of those in front find themselves pressed against the walls. This creates a crush that can claim human lives.

When you find yourself at a mass event, you should pay attention to where the emergency exit is. It is recommended to do this just in case before the start of the performance. Well, what to do if panic arose and an uncontrollable crowd formed? The rules of behavior in a crowd in this case require a sober assessment of the situation. For those who were not among the first to flee, experts advise waiting until the main flow of people subsides. True, this will require composure and considerable endurance. Running through narrow passages along with the entire crowd is only permissible when the flames of a fire are spreading literally before your eyes. After all, this can create a real gas chamber as a result of the combustion of plastic coverings and materials in the hall.

Precautionary measures

So, you rushed to where the main crowd was. The rules of behavior in a crowd dictate that you must empty your pockets. There should be nothing in your clothing that has any rigidity and can cause serious injury to you and others around you. You need to throw away pens and pencils, calculators and notebooks. An exception can only be made for paper money, and even then only if it is not rolled up.

The crowd demands to get rid of clothes that are too loose, long or decorated with metal parts. It is recommended to throw off anything that could put pressure on your neck. This list includes a medallion on a cord, a tie, a chain, a jacket lacing, etc. It is necessary to throw all costume jewelry and any valuables onto the floor, despite the fact that it is a shame to lose them. No exception is made even for glasses. In such a situation, they should not be on the face.

Crowd rules require taking measures to avoid falling due to untied shoelaces while moving. While there is time, they must be tightened with a dead knot. This is very important, because no one can rise up during the movement of uncontrollable masses of people.

Safe behavior in a crowd involves keeping your arms bent at the elbows, with your fists pointing upward. This will protect the chest from pressure. You can do it a little differently. In order not to lose the opportunity to breathe during the pressure of the human mass, it is advisable to clasp your hands in front of your chest. Such precautionary measures must be taken in advance, while the crowd is still thin. The compaction of a large mass of people will certainly occur, because when exiting through narrow doors, the “funnel effect” will work.

The most dangerous places

A person who is moving towards the exit along with a huge mass of people must try to avoid any narrowing places in the room, ledges and dead ends. Here the maximum pressure exerted by the crowd is inevitable. Rules of conduct in a crowd suggest that you should try to avoid being near the wall itself. This is the most dangerous place. A person located there can receive serious injury not only from an incompletely driven nail, but also from an unremarkable electrical outlet. To prevent this from happening, there is a special reminder. Behavior in a crowd requires making every effort to get into the mainstream (although it is not safe there); go back where it is freer; try to lie on top of the flow of people.

The last option causes some difficulties, but it is better to experience the displeasure of the crowd than to be trampled by it or pinned against a wall. Paying attention to the last technique is especially important in cases where children are involved. If possible, place the child on your shoulders.

Crowd on the street

Many people believe that such a flow of people in an open space is less dangerous than in an enclosed space. However, the behavior of an individual in a crowd is, unfortunately, unpredictable. In both cases, a person awakens base instincts that cannot be controlled.

Safe behavior in a crowd will also save you on the street, because a human flow is also capable of trampling its participants. In general, the rules are practically no different from those described above. However, the behavior of a person in a crowd on the street has its own characteristics. In order not to get lost in the mass of people, it is recommended to retreat to side alleys, streets, and walk through courtyards. If this is not possible, the entrances of residential buildings can be used as shelters, through which it is easy to climb to the roofs.

What should someone who finds themselves in a moving crowd do?

First of all, you should stay away from any ledges and walls. The greatest danger in such cases is represented by various metal gratings. There should be no chains, ties or laces around your neck. All these items can easily turn into a stranglehold. There should be nothing hard in clothing pockets that could cause injury.

A person's behavior in a crowd should be restrained. You should not strive to get into the thick of things. It's best to stick to the edge of the crowd.

Rules of Survival

What are the characteristics of human behavior in a crowd? How to take care of your own safety? Keep in mind that you should not resist the spontaneous movement of an uncontrolled flow. Even the most physically strong person will not have enough strength for this. Avoid clinging to lamp posts or walls. It won't help.

The peculiarities of an individual’s behavior in a crowd, when the flow of people has become quite dense, require everyone who really perceives a threat to their own life to stay away from the walls. After all, a broken one will work no worse than a guillotine knife. Already from a distance you need to notice approaching kiosks, poster stands, lamp posts and parapets, and try to miss them.

The peculiarities of an individual's behavior in a crowd are such that a person who cares about his safety should not make the slightest attempt to stop and pick up any object from the ground (even if it is a suitcase with dollars). He is unlikely to be able to take advantage of these values. The reason for stopping should not be an injury. The wounds will need to be examined in a safe place.

Anyone who finds himself in a crowd without losing his head must try to protect women and children. This can only be done by getting out of the human mass. It is necessary to line up in a wedge, placing children and women inside, and, pushing those around you, slowly drift to the side. Moreover, the attempt should be made only in the direction of the crowd.

Dangerous factors are understood as factors that lead to poor health, various injuries and even disability. This kind of property is possessed by systems that have chemically, biologically and technically active components and conditions that do not correspond to human life.

If we talk about an adult, then dangers can await him at work, during vacation or travel, on the street, in transport, and even at home. For children, dangerous factors can be circumstances that arise on the way to school or during a lesson, while playing at home (especially if the child is alone).

All harmful and dangerous factors create various kinds of situations around a person that can become “catalysts” for accidents.

Interpretation of the concept in question

Dangerous situation- this is such an unfavorable environment, within which dangerous and harmful factors of various origins arise, acting as a threat to human life, health, as well as his habitat and property.

In the course of his life, a representative of the human race may find himself in the epicenter of any harmful situation (get injured, get lost, become a victim of an attack, etc.), when it is necessary to mobilize all available forces, skills and abilities. This kind of situation is called extreme(external assistance is excluded or limited).

According to M.P. Frolov, S.V. Petrov, A.T. Smirnov, E.N. Litvinov, extreme situation- this is a set of circumstances of this kind that require the maximum possible effort of all available spiritual and physical strength to protect a person’s health and life. It appears, for example, when a person finds himself in icy water, or in the epicenter of a snow storm, or during a fire.

Nowadays, extreme sports have become popular, where it is necessary to demonstrate all available skills, abilities, and capabilities in order to survive in autonomous, extremely difficult living conditions.

Also, test pilots, rescuers, astronauts, sailors, etc., whose profession is recognized as dangerous, prepare themselves for possible extremely dangerous situations.

Dangerous and emergency situations: distinctive features

Quite often, in a certain territory, due to natural phenomena, environmental disasters, socially dangerous situations, man-made disasters and accidents, the conditions required for the normal functioning of people are violated, and a real threat to their health, life, and property appears. All this (emergency). They require certain efforts from government agencies and the population to prevent and eliminate their consequences.

An extremely dangerous situation can be of a man-made, biological, natural, social-criminal, military, or environmental nature.

Natural emergency– natural disasters of atmospheric, hydro-, lithospheric origin. Under technogenic their nature refers to catastrophes and accidents that occur within the technosphere and that are associated with everyday, industrial human activities, as well as transport. Extremely dangerous situations of a social nature– circumstances contrary to Russian legislation.

Biological emergencies– diseases of the population, animals of a mass nature of infectious origin (episotia, epiphytosis, epidemic). Military extremely dangerous situation- a situation that leads to the use of weapons of all kinds against another state or population. This also includes the suppression of the popular will of one’s own state.

Natural hazards: sources, causes

An outbreak is a dangerous natural process or phenomenon. Dangerous situations of this kind occur for the following reasons:

• earthquake;
• landslide;
• mudflow;
• erosion;
• avalanche;
• strong wind;
• precipitation;
• frost (frost);
• storm;
• volcanic eruption;
• collapse;
• karst;
• tsunami;
• flood;
• tornado;
• drought;
• natural fire;
• fog.

The damaging factors of the above phenomena are a threat to the health and lives of people, as well as agricultural plants, animals, the natural environment and economically important objects. However, not all hazardous natural situations lead to emergencies (they are not recorded in places where a person is not engaged in any activity and does not live). They are formed exclusively when a threat to life, human health or the environment arises due to the occurrence of the situations in question.

Extremely hazardous natural situations– natural disasters (harmful circumstances of geophysical, hydrological, geological, atmospheric and other origin on a scale leading to a catastrophe, which is characterized by a sudden disruption of the normal functioning of the population, destruction and destruction of material assets, death and injury of people and animals).

Classification of natural disasters based on the conditions of their occurrence

They can be divided into the following groups:

1. Meteorological:

• storms (strong, extended air currents moving at speeds over 20 m/s);
• tornadoes (atmospheric vortices that appear in a thundercloud and spread down, as a rule, to the very earth’s surface; they represent a dark cloud arm or trunk with a diameter equal to tens or hundreds of meters);
• hurricanes (atmospheric vortices of large sizes, moving with wind speeds of up to 120 km/h or up to 200 km/h, if we are talking about the surface layer).

2. Geological:

• earthquakes (underground vibrations, tremors of the earth's surface that appear due to sudden ruptures and displacements in the earth's crust or upper mantle and extend over significant distances as elastic vibrations);
• snow avalanches (snow mass that slides or falls from the slopes of mountains (round) and moves at a speed of approximately 20 - 30 m/s).

3. Hydrological (hydrometeorological):

• flood (flooding of an area with water formed due to prolonged rainfall, snowfall, wind surge on the coast, severe snow melting, which causes material damage and damage to human health or even leads to their death);
• tsunamis (sea waves that arise due to the downward or upward displacement of extended zones of the seabed during coastal and underwater earthquakes).

4. Mass diseases - infections (diseases that arise due to the introduction of a living specific infectious agent into macroorganisms (animals, plants, humans): a virus, bacteria, fungus, etc.).

5. Natural fires (uncontrolled burning of vegetation that spreads through the forest).

Man-made emergencies: definition, criteria for assessing their consequences

Extremely dangerous man-made situations– industrial accidents accompanied by the release of chemical substances; explosions and fires; transport accidents (car, sea, river, railway).

Emergency incidents are divided into the following types of accidents:

• with the destruction of technical systems, vehicles, structures and without human casualties;
• disasters (destruction of all of the above means and systems, as well as loss of life).

Criteria for assessing the consequences of any kind of disaster:

• number of victims;
• number of wounded (invalids, deaths from severe wounds);
• long-term mental and physical consequences;
• material damage;
• social and individual upheaval;
• economic consequences.

What can lead to this type of situation?

The causes of dangerous situations (accidents) are as follows:

• miscalculations in the design of modern buildings, insufficient level of their reliability;
• construction work of inadequate quality or deviation from the design plan;
• lack of a clear plan regarding the location of production;
• serious violation of the technical process due to lack of training or lack of discipline or negligence of personnel.

Individual accidents, disasters in transport and industrial facilities may be accompanied by the release of chemical substances, radioactive substances, explosions, fires, etc.

What dangers await drivers on the roads?

Every time a driver gets behind the wheel of his car, he must remember that any vehicle is a source of increased danger; in his hands is the life of those close to him, those in the car with him, and other participants in this road traffic.

The following dangerous situations on the roads (threats) can be identified:

• Head-on collision. In a situation where an oncoming car is not moving in its lane, first of all, the other driver needs to smoothly reduce speed and signal the offender with headlights or a sound signal. Further, if the dangerous road situation worsens (there is a real danger of a collision), it is recommended to immediately reduce the speed and move the car to the right.

• Side collision. In this situation, you should apply extreme braking and try to avoid an accident (give the “offending vehicle” the opportunity to pass first, despite having the right of way). In the case when extreme braking does not produce results, it is necessary to accelerate sharply, thereby bypassing the place of conflict. When performing this maneuver, you should give a warning signal (audio or headlights). In a situation where it is impossible to avoid a collision, you should try to move it from lateral to tangential (turn the steering wheel in the direction of travel of the attacking car).

• A passing collision. It is most often the result of an incorrectly set distance. You should carefully monitor the movement of the vehicle in front, carry out advanced surveillance (determine in advance changes in the road situation that may force the vehicle ahead to brake sharply). If an increase in speed is observed, it is recommended to increase the distance. Braking should be done smoothly to avoid skidding or hitting the following car, and do not forget about giving a warning signal in a timely manner.

These are just some of the dangerous situations on the roads.

Social emergencies

Processes and phenomena of this direction are filled with acute, insoluble contradictions and cataclysms, which in modern times are acquiring a global character. A socially dangerous situation is a harmful situation in a specific territory that has developed due to a dangerous social process or phenomenon that has resulted in human casualties or damage to their health or the environment, significant material losses, and disruption of the normal living conditions of people.

Protection against them is through professional measures that are aimed at eliminating this type of danger. In addition, appropriate training is necessary to enable a person to respond appropriately in dangerous situations.

The following socially dangerous situations can be distinguished:

• wars and related conflicts;
• accelerated population growth;
• insufficient provision of all people with the required resources that are necessary for normal life (fresh water, energy sources, food, etc.);
• distribution of drugs and dangerous diseases;
• uneven social and economic development of different countries;
• environmental pollution;
• negative consequences of scientific development, as well as technology, informatization;
• increase in crime and extremism.

Type of hazardous situations considered

They are:

• without direct physical influence (blackmail, fraud, etc.);
• with direct physical impact (murder, terror, rape, etc.);
• in the form of public protests (riots, revolutions, demonstrations, etc.).

What to do in case of a life threat?

The rules of conduct in dangerous situations are as follows:

1. Crush. First of all, you need to stay on your feet as much as possible. If it is not possible to stand up, you should take a protective pose (bend your legs, cover your head with your hands, turning it in the direction of the crowd). If there is a fire, you need to stay down and breathe through a dampened cloth.
2. snow avalanche. You need to cover your mouth with your hands, creating an air pocket. You should not scream, as in this situation it is necessary to conserve oxygen. It is recommended to remain in this position until the search party arrives.
3. Tornado. First of all, you need to find shelter. In a situation where this cannot be done, it is necessary to establish, as far as possible, its direction of movement. If there is a vehicle in this kind of dangerous situation, you must immediately leave it and start driving in the opposite direction from the “funnel”. In the worst case scenario, you need to lie on the ground, cover your head and hold on to the support you find as tightly as possible.
4. Falling from a mountainside. Do not try to reach the support to avoid a landslide. You need to press your chin to your chest and try to slow down with your feet.
5. Going under the ice. You should get out in the same direction where you entered. If no one is nearby, you need to try to push yourself out using your forearms (spread your arms as wide as possible and lean on the edge of the ice, gradually try to pull yourself up, pushing out first your torso and then your legs, without standing on them).
6. The car ended up in the river. On average, a person has one and a half minutes until the cabin is completely filled with water. The door cannot be opened, so you should open the window as quickly as possible (kick it out if necessary) and free yourself from the seat belt.
7. Seizure in water. You need to immediately turn over on your back and swim to the shore. Next, you need to stretch the place that has cramped, for example, pull your foot towards you.
8. If a person chokes. In a situation where this happened in a public place, you need to stay there, as the chances of others helping you increase. If no one is nearby, you will have to perform the Heimlich maneuver yourself (carry out a sharp blow to the stomach, somewhere between the navel and ribs, using either your own fist or any solid support, for example, a chair).
9. Nuclear explosion. It is possible to survive if a person is outside the radius of the shock wave. First, you should find shelter, if possible underground. In a situation where a person is in the affected area, it is necessary to lie on the ground and close your head for at least half a minute. It is forbidden to look at the flash, as it will instantly blind you.
10. Hostage taking. You should try to escape in the first minutes. If this is not possible, it is best to follow all the stated rules. It is necessary to constantly monitor what is happening and try to determine the reason for the abduction. Attempts to escape should only be made after carefully weighing the risks and chances.
11. Dog attack. It is always necessary to remain calm (do not shout, do not show fear, do not look into the eyes of the animal). Do not allow the dog to be behind your back (in a situation where the animal begins to move in a circle, you must always be facing it). If you have a third-party object in your hands, place it in front of you. The main thing is to protect your face, throat, and chest. Your fingers must be clenched into a fist.
12. Staying outside during a thunderstorm. You need to find a low-lying place and squat down (you need to position yourself as low as possible, but try not to touch the ground). Be sure to cover your ears.
13. A big wave. First you need to try to swim across it. In cases where this is impossible, you need to stretch your legs and arms (distribute the blow, keep your body from plunging to depth). Next, you should take a deep breath and hold your breath until the excitement subsides. You should surface as quickly as possible and breathe.

Dangers in the mountains and precautions

Climbing and tourism activities involves overcoming numerous dangers associated with the terrain, meteorological conditions and directly with the actions of tourists and climbers themselves. Timely recognition of hazards is facilitated by knowledge of the nature and causes of phenomena, which makes it possible to completely eliminate or significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and dangerous situations.

THE REAL DANGER IN THE MOUNTAINS MAY BE:

1. natural phenomena - earthquakes, avalanches, rockfalls, collapses of ice and snow cornices, cracks in glaciers, mudflows, mountain rivers.

2. unfavorable climatic conditions - wind, thunderstorm, sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity, rain, snowfall, exposure to the sun, darkness.

All these natural factors can become many times more complicated if climbers have the wrong attitude towards organizing mountain climbing and observing safety measures.

The reasons that sometimes lead to accidents are:

1. insufficient physical and technical preparedness, inconsistency of the chosen route with the strength and experience of tourists.

2. incorrect selection of the group, lack of similarity.

4. insufficient discipline in the group, lack of a clear distribution of responsibilities.

5. insufficient knowledge of the route and unreasonable changes.

6. ignorance of dangers in the mountains and safety measures.

7. neglect of insurance or its incorrect use.

8. overestimation of one’s own strengths and capabilities and underestimation of the difficulties of the route

9. weakening of attention, especially during descents.

10. poor quality or insufficient equipment, lack of food.

11. lack of medications necessary to provide medical care.

12. inappropriate clothing.

13. poor organization of recreation, lack of control over the health status of group members.

TERRAIN HAZARDS

Avalanches (snow falls) snow masses sliding off the inclined underlying surface of mountain slopes and carrying new masses of snow along their path. Avalanches are one of the most real and formidable dangers in the mountains. The reasons that cause avalanches depend on the relief and nature of the surface, the steepness of the slope, the temperature and humidity of the air, the temperature inside the snow masses, the thickness of the snow cover, wind compaction, etc. Depending on these factors, one or another type of avalanche occurs, each has its own features, time of year and destructive force. An avalanche can occur on a slope of 15 - 18° even with slight snowfall. The amount of adhesion of snow masses to the slope depends on the nature of the underlying surface and the vegetation located on it. It doesn’t take much effort for snow to begin to slide on a frozen grassy surface. Somewhat more force is needed to slide snow over bushes. On long, gentle slopes at low altitudes up to 2000 m, the most dangerous time for avalanches is spring. Large layers of snow, saturated with water as a result of thawing, do not stay on the slippery surface and slide down the slope. At such altitudes, the air temperature is increased, the snow becomes moist and becomes avalanche dangerous. So-called reservoir avalanches occur. Such avalanches are especially frequent during the rainy season. If during the day the top layer of snow melted in the sun, and at night it froze, turning into a dense hard crust, weakly connected with the dry snow lying underneath, then the entire layer of snow slides down to the ground. Such an avalanche is called a ground avalanche; it carries with it everything that lay on the surface of the slopes, stones, tree debris, etc. In the process of avalanche formation, air humidity plays an important role. When the air is dry and warm, the melting of snow is imperceptible, but abundant evaporation occurs. The underlying surface is not wetted, and the appearance of vapors above the snow surface causes them to cool. Therefore, dry mountain regions (Tian Shan, Sayan Mountains) can be equally dangerous for avalanches in both spring and winter. The nature of avalanches is influenced by temperature changes inside snow masses. Snow has great thermal insulation properties - in the lower layers the temperature is much higher than in the upper ones, and the thicker the layer of snow, the greater this difference, sometimes it reaches 15 C. This difference in temperature causes active movement of steam from the warm layers to the outer, cold ones . In this case, the steam is cooled, which, bypassing the condensation process, turns directly into ice, compacting the outer layer. A loosening horizon is created in the lower layers, which creates conditions for sliding. Avalanches can be caused by snow compaction due to strong winds. The lower layers of snow gradually settle, a cavity appears between them and the crust, which increases even more with the formation of a loosening horizon. A so-called “snow board” is formed, which tends to move downward under the weight of the snow mass. The slightest additional overload of such a slope can lead to the formation of an avalanche. The “board” can also move with a sudden change in temperature. At high altitudes, where winds prevail, ridges on the windward side are exposed and snow accumulates on the leeward side. The accumulation of huge masses of snow in such places leads to overloading of the slopes and the occurrence of avalanches. This snow, as a rule, does not have a coarse-grained structure. When the wind meets rocky areas, pressure is created, and a discharged zone is formed behind the ridge. The result is a turbulence in the air flow, where the speed of movement drops sharply. The settling fine snow dust gradually becomes denser. The accumulating snow turns into giant cornices, which, when overloaded, collapse with a roar, dragging the underlying masses of snow with them, turning it all into a huge avalanche that quickly rolls down the slopes. Depending on the morphology of the underlying surface, “wasps” (snow landslides), flume avalanches and jumping avalanches are distinguished.

"Osovami" called the sliding of snow from the surface of a mountain slope outside the channels. Wasps occur mainly on steep grassy slopes, where the adhesion force of snow to the underlying surface is small. The speed of these avalanches is small, but their destructive power is enormous.

Avalanches that slide along a strictly fixed channel (gulls, couloirs) are called tray Their place of decline is constant, and they are visible from afar. Below, at the bottom of the slope, flume avalanches form rubble in the form of alluvial cones. If the drainage channel ends with a wall going down, then the avalanches, by inertia, continue their movement through the air, as if jumping from a springboard to the bottom of the valley, hence their name “jumping”. Beats "jumping" avalanches of colossal force, as they are almost in free fall. Avalanches are also classified depending on the condition of the snow. On this basis they are divided into dry, wet and wet.

Avalanches are also classified depending on the condition of the snow. On this basis they are divided into dry, wet and wet.

Dry avalanche An avalanche is formed mainly from freshly fallen snow during storms and blizzards. Sometimes the cause of such an avalanche is the breakdown of the “snow board”. Snow slabs, encountering obstacles, break against each other and turn into dry snow dust. For climbers and mountain tourists, this is the most dangerous avalanche, as it moves at high speed, forming a powerful air cushion in front of it.

Wet avalanches occur mainly at above-zero temperatures from wet snow. They move more slowly, forming a so-called alluvial cone of piled-up snowballs and blocks.

Wet avalanches moving quickly, below they also diverge into a cone, forming piles of large blocks from wet snow. The cone reaches many meters in thickness. Immediately behind the obstacle, the snow mass can break apart and form a clearing. Then the gap is closed and the avalanche movement takes the form of a caterpillar movement

The air wave caused by the fall of both dry and wet avalanches has enormous destructive power. Moving masses of snow compact the air, which rushes ahead of the avalanche at tremendous speed. After the avalanche stops, gigantic masses of air continue to move forward, sweeping away everything in their path and causing devastation over a significant area.

Avalanche-prone areas are also open slopes in winter and spring, starting with a 15-degree steepness, although in the summer there are almost no traces of an avalanche on them. In the highlands, near pools of firn accumulation that feed glaciers through gutters, avalanche-prone areas can be identified on couloirs between rocks. Snowfalls, increased air humidity, and general warming are harbingers of avalanche danger. Avalanches are also facilitated by wind, rain, thunderstorms, and hair dryers. Avalanche danger increases at low temperatures after snowfalls on any slopes. The most avalanche dangerous time is between 11 am and 3 pm. With the increase in rockfalls, failures of cornices and faults, the number of dry avalanches also increases. At night, the snow freezes, so there are significantly fewer avalanches. And yet, climbers have to overcome avalanche-prone slopes, since often there is no other way. If you follow all traffic rules, an accident can be avoided. Failure to follow the rules for driving through avalanche-prone areas, ignorance and inability to determine the presence of avalanche danger can lead to disaster.

Basic rules for passing through avalanche areas.

You should not go to an avalanche-prone area during or immediately after heavy snowfall, fog or rain. In clear weather after snowfall, as in cloudy weather, you should wait 2-3 days, and in dry, frosty winter - up to 6 days. You should cross avalanche-prone slopes in the morning or evening, when the snow is frozen. If possible, you should walk at the top of the slope, near the rocks. You need to cross large avalanche-prone areas in pairs, with the rope extended to its full length. When crossing narrow areas, you should, if possible, secure the rope to the rocks with hooks and organize a railing for belaying the group members. You need to cross a dangerous place quickly, with long steps, trying not to disturb the integrity of the snow between the tracks so as not to cut the slope. It is necessary to use red avalanche cords 25-35 m long, one end of which is tied to the belt. If one of the satellites gets caught in an avalanche, the cord that remains on the surface will help the others find the victim. Cross avalanche areas in absolute silence; talking contributes to loss of focus, and shouting and singing can cause avalanches to fall. If there is a dull rumble or hissing underfoot from snow subsidence on the slopes, you must stop moving. If there are buttresses, you should not move up the avalanche-prone couloir; it is safer to move onto the rocks. When skiing, you must maintain an interval of at least 50 - 70 m from each other, remove the straps of the poles from your hands, and unfasten the ski bindings. In some cases, in more dangerous places, the crossing is made without skis. You should have a thick scarf or handkerchief tied around your neck so that in the event of a dust avalanche, you can quickly pull it over your mouth and nose. You cannot set up bivouacs in avalanche-prone areas. If a person does get caught in an avalanche and it drags him down, he must make every effort to stay on its surface and not be thrown head down. If the avalanche continues to carry you away, you need to quickly throw off your backpack, free your feet from your skis (if you have skis) and try to “float” to the surface of the avalanche. If the avalanche has not yet picked up speed, you should make an attempt to escape from it - going down and to the side towards its edge as quickly as possible. An overturned person becomes helpless and only the one who wins is the one who does not become confused and immediately makes every effort in the fight against the elements.

Glaciers. Climbers and mountain tourists constantly have to overcome the terrain of glaciers. Masses of ice, under the influence of their gravity and plasticity, flow along the inclined surface of the bottom of mountain valleys. Glaciers move continuously at any time of the year and day. Therefore, you can observe how huge ice blocks break off from the main masses from hanging glaciers and fly down at high speed, breaking into pieces, carrying snow dust with them. Particularly dangerous are places where there are traces of a recent collapse. Here you need to pass quickly, without delay early in the morning, and it is better to avoid overhanging ice ledges and seracs. Avoid ice couloirs and chutes.

Glacial cracks pose a serious danger if they are covered with a small layer of snow (closed cracks) that cannot withstand the weight of a person. A free fall into such cracks is fraught with serious consequences. With proper insurance organization, there is virtually no danger when moving on a glacier. To ensure the safety of crossing a glacier replete with cracks, you should: move in a team of 3 - 4 people, with each participant always ready to belay a friend. The person going first in the group should continuously probe the thickness of the snow covering the cracks with an ice ax. You need to cross the glacier along its inner edge at small curves, where there are significantly fewer cracks. The rest of the team should not deviate from the direction taken by the one in front and follow in his footsteps.

Rockfalls. Rockfalls pose a great danger when walking rocky routes. A broken stone, hitting the rocks, throws off other stones, which fly down at high speed. Rockfall poses a huge danger to those caught in its path. Therefore, every climber should know the causes of rockfalls. Rocks are constantly being eroded, especially on peaks, ridges and steep rock faces. At the same time, granite, massive rocks are less susceptible to destruction than rocks made of limestone and shale. Rocks covered with ice and snow are cemented with ice all year round and are therefore less dangerous. As a result of atmospheric influences - heating and cooling, the action of water and wind - rocks become covered with small cracks, water enters them, which, freezing and thawing, gradually splits the rock. Rain, wind, lightning and tremors contribute to the fall of stones. In the morning, the rocks begin to heat up, the ice seal is broken and individual stones fall down. Rockfalls usually begin on the eastern and southeastern slopes of the mountains. The most intense rockfalls occur in warm and sunny weather and reach their maximum by midday. After noon, the rockfall front moves to the western slopes of the rocks, illuminated by the sun. By the end of the day, as the air temperature drops, rockfalls almost stop. In cloudy weather and at night, stones fall less often. The most dangerous places are couloirs, chutes, stream beds and other depressions that serve as natural paths for the movement of stones. Rockfalls can be caused by climbers themselves - when resting their feet on a weak rock, using an incorrect hold, or careless actions with the rope. Signs of places of constant rockfall: fresh stripes from falling stones on the walls of couloirs, gutters and slopes, individual stones on firn and snowy slopes, traces of fresh breaks on the rocks, screes under the slopes. The safest places from rockfalls are all watersheds, buttresses and, of course, ridges. To ensure safety from rockfalls, climbers and mountain tourists must follow the following rules:

Overcome dangerous sections of the route at the safest time of the day.

Cross rock-dangerous couloirs at their upper reaches.

In a rocky couloir, move one at a time with careful belay.

When ascending and descending scree, group members must maintain a minimum interval.

Do not allow participants to be on top of each other, especially when two groups are moving at the same time.

When moving on brittle rocks, you should carefully check all support points and lean on them so as not to tear them off the slope. Each moved stone should be held in place and a comrade should be warned about its fragility. The fallen stone should be held and put aside.

If there are a large number of participants, two groups can move parallel up or down, or the bottom group should leave after the top group moves to the side.

Do not be in a dangerous place in rain, snow, thunderstorms, strong winds, or at dusk.

When crossing dangerous places in each group, you need to assign an observer who constantly monitors the situation above and, in the event of a rockfall, warns the group about it with a loud but calm exclamation of “rock!” The same signal is used by someone who accidentally knocks over a stone and it rolls down.

In the event of a rockfall, you need to press yourself against the wall, under a ledge, cornice, etc. If there is no shelter, then stay in place and watch the flight of the stone, and at the last moment jump away from it.

Sel- a sudden flash flood that occurs on mountain rivers. load-bearing soil, stones, ice, fragments of trees - everything that he encounters on the way. Mudflows are a fairly common occurrence in the mountains. Mudflows can be very destructive; they pose a danger not only to those in the mountains, but also to populated areas. Mudflows destroy houses, mountain roads, demolish crops, and create dams. Mudflows can be mud, mud-stone and water-stone. The most common mudflows are mudflows. The reason for the formation of mudflows can be heavy and prolonged rains, significant slopes, the presence of loose clastic material, or a breakthrough of a lake formed as a result of a blockage in the upper reaches of the gorge. Signs of a mudflow are rapidly increasing water levels in rivers, which take on the color of the soil. The approach of a mudflow can be determined by specific noise and rumble. The risk of mudflows increases with warming. More frequent mudflows occur between May and September; they do not occur in winter. People who find themselves in the path of a mudflow can only be saved by leaving its path to a hill, climbing up the rocks. A group caught in heavy rains must wait until they end and the mudflows clear. The bivouac should be set up in a safe place, on hills, watersheds, where there is no danger of mudflows and rockfalls.

Mountain rivers. Every climber and mountain tourist encounters mountain rivers, which often block the path. When crossing mountain rivers, you must follow the following safety rules: choose the safest crossing point. Make the crossing in the morning, when there is less water. Avoid wading in dangerous situations. Finding yourself in a mountain stream, you should throw off your backpack, maintain a position on your chest and strive to get closer to the shore, a stone, or a tree in order to linger.

HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATIC AND METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Sun burns. The sun affects a person much more strongly at high altitudes than below. The nose, cheeks, especially lips, are burned and covered with blisters. Bright light, mainly on snow and glaciers, not only on clear days, but also in cloudy weather and fog, causes inflammation of the retina. After 3-4 hours pain appears, vision deteriorates, and sometimes temporary blindness occurs. Exposure to sunlight and high temperatures can cause sunstroke. This especially happens in windless places, snow circuses, depressions and couloirs. To prevent burns, the following measures should be taken:

· use smoke glasses in all cases of going out on clear ice, snow or firn throughout the day;

· be sure to wear a hat;

· use special ointments and a mask made of gauze.

Wind. Wind is often the cause of danger in the mountains. It contributes to the formation of rockfalls and avalanches. Wind in the mountains affects temperature changes. With height, its speed increases, as the resistance of the earth's surface decreases, and the higher its speed, the greater the impact it has on the environment and on humans. In the mountains, gusty winds reach high speeds, especially on ridges and peaks. During a severe snowstorm, huge snow whirlwinds form. A whirlwind wind can tear down an erected tent, carry away equipment, etc. Wind with snowfall reduces visibility and covers up tracks in the snow. The group, having lost its bearings, can go out onto avalanche-prone slopes, to a rockfall couloir. An increase in air speed by 1 m/s is equivalent to a decrease in temperature by 10° C. Heat transfer at an air speed of 0.9-1.3 m/s is 2 times greater than with still air. Wind enhances heat generation processes and increases metabolism. Strong gusts of wind can throw a person off a difficult section of the path, especially on a ridge. A sign of strong wind on the ridge is flags made of snow.

Precautions for strong winds:

· Have warm clothes and a windproof jacket

· A group caught in a strong snowstorm or gale force winds should try to get out of the area

· Do not move along the ridge, but rather wait it out, taking cover on the leeward side.

· If the group is forced to continue moving in strong winds, then they should only walk in bundles, increase vigilance for belaying and monitor the condition of their comrades, protect their face from frostbite

Freezing. A rapid change in temperature cannot but affect the life processes of the human body. Air temperature has a great influence on heat exchange. High temperature limits heat transfer, low temperature increases it. It is known that air temperature drops with height. In the mountains, the magnitude of the change in air temperature depends on the season, time of day, the nature of atmospheric processes, the presence of glaciers, snow cover, etc. So, if in summer the temperature at sea level is +15°C, then at an altitude of 1000 m +8°C, at an altitude of 4000 m -11°C, at an altitude of 6000 m -24°C, at an altitude of 9000 m -43°C C. If the air temperature is low and its humidity is high, then heat transfer increases significantly and at the same time the danger of hypothermia increases. At high altitudes, in non-acclimatized people, with a lack of oxygen, the activity of the thermoregulation center is disrupted and they are more susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia is promoted by fatigue, general exhaustion of the body, poor nutrition, immobility, lack of warm clothes, especially socks, and tight shoes. Legs and arms are most often exposed to frostbite. The feeling of cold does not allow you to have a good rest at the bivouac. After very cold or uncomfortable bivouacs, the climber noticeably loses performance and resistance to disease. When the body cools down and during great physical exertion at high altitude, a tired climber tends to sleep. It is necessary to overcome drowsiness, since sleeping in severe frost can lead to death. To protect yourself from the dangers of low temperatures, first of all, the climber’s clothing and equipment must be appropriate for the intended environment. A set of warm woolen clothing (sweaters, socks, insoles, etc.), a warm sleeping bag and a good tent will protect you from the cold.

Storm in the mountains is a great danger because a person, being at a height, falls into the sphere of lightning discharges. Lightning striking rocks and even thunder can cause strong air vibrations and cause avalanches and rockfalls. A sign of an approaching thunderstorm is, first of all, an increase in ionization of the air, which in its smell resembles the atmosphere of a physiotherapy room where quartz lamps are burning. Hair rises, crackles and sparkles when combed. Sharp parts of metal equipment produce an electrical discharge when they come into contact with the human body. The ice axes begin to hum. Every minute you should expect a more noticeable manifestation of the thunderstorm. In addition to the danger of being struck by lightning, a thunderstorm in the mountains can be accompanied by a snowstorm, hail or rain. The approach of a thunderstorm can be determined by a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure (based on the barometer) and the appearance of cumulus clouds. When a thunderstorm front appears, lightning flashes and dark clouds can be seen from afar. To find out at what distance lightning strikes occur, you need to calculate the gap between the flash of lightning and thunder. It is known that sound waves move at a speed of 340 m per 1 s. The number of seconds is multiplied by 340, the result is the distance from the location of the lightning discharge in meters. Therefore, you can calculate your actions and prepare for the onset of a thunderstorm. Most often, lightning in the mountains strikes protruding points - rocky peaks that are higher than others, ridges where there are rocks containing at least a small percentage of iron. When a thunderstorm approaches, it is necessary to descend from an elevated place to a shelter of 10 -15 m to a safe place, which will serve as protection from a direct lightning strike; Take all metal objects no closer than 10 m, sit with your head down, arms around your knees. At the same time, put dry equipment under the seat and legs (storm boots, foam rubber, rope, sleeping bag, etc.), and do not touch the rocks and soil with your hands. If a thunderstorm occurs on a steep slope, then you should definitely organize a self-belay - hammer in a hook and attach to it with a dry rope, preferably without a carabiner, tying the rope to the chest harness. Anyone struck by lightning should receive immediate assistance.

Fog poses a great danger to climbers. It can occur as a result of the movement of clouds and rising vapors. Fog impairs visibility, making it difficult to navigate and choose a path. It disrupts the connection between participants and has a depressing effect on the psyche. In heavy fog it is almost impossible to move. Fog is difficult to predict; it can appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly when exposed to wind. Having lost orientation, the group can go to an avalanche-prone area, under a rockfall, onto a cornice, or lose their way. In fog it is easy to lose a person and difficult to find him, so you should stop moving. The group can only move if they have excellent knowledge of the route. In this case, the following rules should be observed: walk in bundles, do not stretch even on easy sections of the path; monitor the condition of your friend.

Rain and snowfall a very common occurrence in the mountains. After rain or wet snowfall, when all clothes are wet and icy, conditions are created for the body to become hypothermic. Wet clothing and equipment negatively affect bivouac rest and negatively affect the climber’s nervous system. Rain, sleet, and hail contribute to icy conditions, which make it many times more difficult to overcome rocky, snowy and ice areas, as well as grassy slopes. The danger of rockfalls and avalanches increases sharply. Heavy rainfall increases the amount of water in rivers, making crossing difficult. A climber should always remember that such a situation may arise and stock up on waterproof clothing before going out into the high mountain zone. In case of heavy rain and snowfall, it is necessary to find shelter, wait out the bad weather, covered with a raincoat, and if the weather worsens for a long time, set up a bivouac. You need to wait until after the snowfall and not go to the rocky sections of the route.

Darkness.. At night, climbers can lose orientation and go astray. In the dark, the path becomes invisible, the existing danger is hidden. Walking in the mountains at night is not recommended, but there may be cases when it is necessary (the work of a rescue squad or search group). It happens that a group cannot find a suitable place to spend the night for a long time, and it is caught in the night. Going out at night should be planned only in safe and familiar places in order to pass an avalanche-dangerous couloir at dawn and have enough time to return to the base or camp.

Favorable weather and good luck to you on your hikes

The most common danger on mountain routes is rockfalls. Rocks falling from heights can cause severe injuries and even death to tourists. This phenomenon is caused by lightning discharges, strong gusts of wind, the movement of mountain animals or careless actions of people. As observations show, rockfalls can occur at certain times of the year and at certain times of the day. Most often they should be expected at the end of summer, when the snow and ice cover disappears from the rocks. During the day, rockfall usually begins approximately a few hours after the ice holding the rocks thaws, warmed by the rising sun. Therefore, the greatest intensity of rockfalls occurs at noon. The danger of these phenomena also increases in rainy weather. Places where stones have fallen can be identified by their accumulation under the slope, scratches, furrows and dirt. It can be very difficult for tourists to notice the beginning of a rockfall, because, as a rule, only the rumble of stones serves as a danger signal. If one stone falls, then you can dodge it, but if a large rockfall occurs, then you must urgently seek shelter.

Mudflows, which carry along huge masses of stones and loose soil saturated with water, sliding after melting snow, intense rains or the breakthrough of dammed mountain rivers, can radically change the conditions of a hike. Mudflows, as a rule, occur in spring and summer, at the exits of side gorges and couloirs. Heavy rains can serve as a warning about mudflows for tourists below.

Mountain rivers serve as a difficult obstacle on the tourist route. The danger of crossing them is determined by the fast current, uneven bottom and banks and low water temperature. The water level in mountain rivers has significant seasonal and daily fluctuations, and also depends on the intensity of snow melting. For example, snow melts more slowly at night, so the lowest water level in the river occurs early in the morning. It is at this time that the crossing must be made. In dangerous situations, you should refuse to cross the ford, and, if you find yourself in a fast flow of water, you should throw off your backpack and try to get closer to the shore, tree or stone as quickly as possible.

The most insidious danger of the mountains is avalanches. In the mountains they are possible not only in winter and spring, but at any time of the year. The most dangerous are smooth slopes covered with thick snow cover. The main cause of avalanches can be sudden changes in temperature and large amounts of rainfall, as a result of which the process of snow recrystallization occurs. There are three types of avalanches: “wasp”, flume, and jumping.

“Wasps” are the sliding of snow cover from the surface of a mountain slope outside the channels. The speed of movement of such avalanches is small, but they have crushing force. Most often, “wasps” appear on steep grassy slopes, characterized by a low adhesion force of snow to the underlying surface.

Flume avalanches are snow masses that slide down hollows, couloirs and other strictly fixed channels. If the avalanche drainage channel is blocked by a wall, then the snow masses continue to move through the air. This creates the impression that an avalanche is jumping. The impact of a bouncing avalanche is colossal.

Sub-cornice slopes are especially prone to avalanches. Under the influence of strong winds, thaw and careless actions of tourists, a layer of snow can come off and cause an avalanche. Tourists should do their best to avoid driving on avalanche-prone slopes and choose, although more difficult, fairly safe routes that run along ridges or through wooded and rugged areas. If a tourist still gets caught in an avalanche, you need to make every effort not to tip over head down, but to remain on its surface. To do this, you need to quickly throw off your backpack and try to “float” to the top.

In addition to these dangers, there are dangers in the mountains associated with the peculiarities of the mountain climate. This can be the burning effect of the sun's rays, wind, fog, thunderstorms, precipitation and low temperature.

At high altitudes, the sun affects people much more strongly than below. Because of this, the nose, cheeks and especially lips are immediately exposed to burns, becoming covered with blisters. If the route passes through snow and glaciers, then their shine can lead to inflammation of the retina, not only on clear days, but also in cloudy weather. Inflammation of the retina often develops into temporary loss of vision - “snow blindness.” Excessively hot sun in windless areas can cause sunstroke. To avoid burns, be sure to wear a hat, use smoky glasses when hiking on ice or snow, and also use special ointments or a gauze mask.

Fog in the mountains is dangerous because it masks dangerous places and makes it difficult to navigate. Because of it, visual communication between the participants of the hike is disrupted, and inexperienced tourists may panic. If the route involves avoiding numerous obstacles, then during fog you need to stop moving or do it at reduced intervals and with periodic voice communication.

Wind is the cause of many dangers in the mountains. It causes rockfalls and avalanches, and affects temperature changes. In the mountains, the wind becomes gusty and becomes stronger, especially on peaks and ridges. Hurricane gusts of wind can throw off hikers on a difficult section of the path, especially on the ridge, and in frosty weather can contribute to frostbite. That is why tourists planning a hike need to stock up on warm clothes and windbreakers made of windproof fabric. If the group is caught in a strong wind, you need to try to get out of the danger zone. At this moment you cannot move along the ridge - it is better to take cover on the leeward side.

Rain, hail, and sleet in the mountains can lead to ice and slippery grass, making the route much more difficult to overcome. Precipitation can cause a sharp increase in the risk of rockfalls and avalanches. Tourists should remember that during mountain hikes this situation is not uncommon, and you need to stock up on waterproof clothing. In case of heavy showers or snowfalls, you should interrupt the hike and wait for the weather to improve in the tent.

Thunderstorms in the mountains are especially dangerous. A tourist, being at a height, falls into the area of ​​electrical discharges. In addition, a thunderstorm can cause air vibrations and contribute to the formation of avalanches and rockfalls. A clear sign of an approaching thunderstorm in the mountains is the smell of ionized air, crackling and sparking of electrified hair and metal objects. It should be remembered that most often lightning strikes in the mountains are attracted by protruding points. Having learned that a thunderstorm is approaching, you need to go down from an elevated place to a shelter that can protect you from a direct lightning strike. In addition, it is necessary to carry all metal objects no closer than ten meters, sit on dry equipment (sleeping bag, rolled rope) and not touch the ground with your hands.

Temperatures that are too low or too high, which are typical for mountain climates in winter, contribute to an increase in heat transfer among hikers, which leads to the danger of hypothermia. Warm woolen items (sweater, hat, scarf, socks, insoles, etc.), a good tent and a warm sleeping bag can protect you from the cold.

It is very dangerous to walk in the mountains at night. In the dark, tourists can lose their way and lose their orientation. Due to poor visibility of the path, there are high rates of injury. Therefore, you can walk in the mountains at night only in extreme cases, for example, when a group cannot find a suitable place to spend the night for a long time.