Be Prepared
Safety, First Aid & Emergency Preparedness
Arizona's backcountry is serious terrain. Extreme heat, limited water, remote terrain, and monsoon storms demand respect. These resources cover the safety knowledge that keeps you alive.
Get Wilderness First Aid Certified
In Arizona's backcountry, help is never close. When you're 10 miles from a trailhead in the Superstitions or 20 miles from a road in the Mazatzals, the person most likely to save a life is you. A Wilderness First Aid course gives you the skills to handle emergencies when 911 isn't an option.
View WFA Course Guide →Essential Reading
First Aid & Safety Gear
Your first aid kit should match your training. This guide covers what to carry, how to build a kit for your skill level, and the emergency gear that could save your life.
View First Aid Gear Guide →Navigation Tools
Getting lost is the most common backcountry emergency. This guide covers map, compass, GPS, and phone navigation - and why you need at least two methods.
View Navigation Guide →Orienteering Compasses
When your phone dies and GPS fails, a compass and map are your only reliable navigation tools. Our compass review covers the best options for Arizona desert conditions.
Read the Compass Reviews →Water Treatment
Dehydration kills faster than any other hazard in Arizona. This guide covers water treatment methods and how to plan water carries in dry terrain.
View Water Treatment Guide →More Content Coming
We're building out comprehensive safety content including:
- • Heat illness prevention - recognizing and avoiding heat exhaustion and heat stroke in Arizona's extreme temperatures
- • Snakebite protocol - what to do (and what not to do) if you're bitten by a rattlesnake
- • Monsoon safety - lightning, flash floods, and hypothermia at elevation during summer storms
- • Emergency communication - satellite messengers, PLBs, and when to call for help
- • Search and rescue in Arizona - how to contact SAR, what to expect, and how to help them help you
Check back soon for new content.