Out on our walk one morning, my dog Cooper found his ball and dropped it so I could throw it. He was very excited and came running back towards me full tilt, ball in mouth. I should have stood still; he would have gone around me, but I moved to my left. He took me out, knocked me off my feet and I landed on my knee and hip. I felt a bit stunned as I brought myself to my knees and stood up carefully. Nothing appeared to be broken and thankfully I was able to walk home, as I was far from any houses and my screams would likely not have been heard. At least the sand was soft if I needed to crawl home.
I should have had my phone with me, just in case, even though I was unlikely to get a signal out where I was. With much gratitude I can report that upon pants-down further inspection I had a bruised knee and hip but there did not appear to be any further damage. I realize I was very lucky indeed.
What if that had not been the case and I was unable to stand and walk home? I have known several older people who fell and hurt themselves, forced to lie on the ground and wait until someone came to the rescue.
Always have water with you and these days it seems sensible to have your phone with you if you’re out on a hike or even out in the yard. You can call or text 911 or a neighbor for help. A text is more likely to get through than a phone call. Even if you don’t have a signal you can change your voicemail message to indicate your distress and where you can be found, so that a caller will hear your message and send help. And always remember the rule of three: three blows on a whistle or an air horn that might be heard by a neighbor, three flashes of light, three fires in a line, three piles of rocks visible to rescuers – you get the idea. Try to find shade, keep all your clothes on to prevent sunburn and dehydration and stay as still as possible to conserve energy and slow down thirst.
I now carry water, a whistle and my phone with me when I walk Cooper. Better to be safe than sorry.
