Crossing rivers can be exciting but way too dangerous because you do not know what lies beneath. Before taking the trip alone or in a group it is necessary to assess the possibilities and the challenges of crossing the river bed. For instance, look out for shallow braided sections, bridges, the deep and shallow points, etc. You would also need the right kind of attire – tough boots and short pants.

Cross River Safety
Some safe steps and tips for crossing a river are listed below:

• Use a long and strong pole about 5 to 6 feet and place it upstream
• Keep two points of contact while crossing a river
• Cross diagonally downstream
• Shuffle as you take one step at a time to assess the bed beneath your feet
• If in a group cross in a line with hands on the back of the person in front from both sides grabbing on the lower part of the shoulder strap
• Cross in groups of three
• Try entering the water so that you are parallel to the current
• The strongest person should face in the upstream position as the rest follow
• Try forming a triangle while entering the water, facing each other towards the inside with arms tied and the strongest person should be at the triangle point facing the downstream side of the triangle.
• Each person should take a step supported by the other two

Always release your waist and chest straps of your bag pack to cross rivers. In case, you loose footing, let go of your bag pack from the shoulders but hang onto to it while keeping your face above and facing upstream.

The Africanized honeybee is anything but sweet. Extremely dangerous and wild they were labeled the ‘Killer Bee’ after a magazine reported several deaths from the stings of the Africanized bee. It is a cousin of the domesticated run-of-the-mill honeybee which has inhabited the United States for years now. The killer bee is aggressive and can be easily angered by both humans and animals.

Escaping the Killer Bee
Follow the steps below if caught by a swarm of killer bees:

• If the killer bees are flying around or stinging you, do not freeze or strike blows. Instead run for safety cover.
• Try getting indoors as quickly as possible.
• In case you do not find shelter, run between high weeds and bushes to get cover from them.
• If at all a killer bee stings you, it will leave its stinger on you which you will have to remove.
• Gently remove the stinger from your skin with your nails but from the side.
• Do not pull or pinch the stinger which will increase the venom flow from the stinger into your body.
• Remove stinger quickly because allowing it stay on can cause venom to enter your body for up to ten whole minutes.
• Never jump into a water body because the killer bee waits for you to surface.

Bee stings from the killer bee are deathly and are caused only because the victim is not able to escape in time. Animal losses have also occurred due to the same reason that they had been tied when attacked by bees and hence could not take cover.

Trekking moist forests or a bush walk after rain can leave you covered with leeches. Leeches are dangerous, hard to kill and difficult to squash. However, you need them out of your skin as early as possible. Discover ways to kill and remove leeches from your body here below.

How to Kill a Leech?
You can kill a leech stuck to your skin by following the procedure below:

• Take a shower and try getting the leeches off your body
• Once off they may be stuck to your drain and are difficult to remove from there too
• Put some bleach over the drain and bathroom as most domestic shower cleaning agents and detergents contain bleach
• You will notice they die within a minute

To avoid leeches, do not brush against moist plant life or bush walk after the rains. Leech bites can also occur while fishing outdoors near swamps. So avoid marshy land for trekking or hiking. Many have also tried salt for removing leeches from their body and it helps a great deal.