Personal Hygiene and Health
Please look at these before coming on your expedition with us.
The aim of this page is to help prepare you before attending a Sam Sykes Ltd expedition. This section covers personal hygiene and health on expedition.
First Aid
Let’s face it, you may get a blister or two on your expedition.
The risk of this can be reduced by making sure your boots fit properly, breaking them in before you come, wearing hiking socks and making sure that they are laced up properly, but they still may happen.
You can also reduce the risk of blisters by keeping your feet as dry as possible. Avoid jumping in puddles! At the end of each day, take your boots off and let them air. Start every day with a fresh, dry pair of hiking socks.
This short video shows you how to apply Compeed and how to remove it again.
Blister plasters work best if you apply them as soon as you feel a blister starting.
Learn about the essential items to include in your first aid kit to go in your backpack. By Sikana.
A short video on what a personal first aid kit should contain.
We will provide each group with a first aid kit, but if you are sensitive to plasters or know you are prone to blisters please make sure you have your own supply with you.
Check with your school on their policy about brining painkillers. Our first aid kits do not have any medication in them.
Full training on first aid will be provided on your expedition.
Blister Plasters
Learn how to effectively apply a COMPEED® Blister plaster quickly to protect your foot and help reduce blister pain. By Compeed.
Periods on expedition
Periods on your expedition are nothing to be afraid of. Here is a short video with plenty of tips.
Our main piece of advice is make sure you are prepared, take plenty of your preferred product.
We all know that sometimes you can start your period unexpectedly, if this happens and you don’t have any sanitary products don’t panic, we always have some on each expedition.
If you are prone to cramps bring a small hot water bottle and your usual pain relief. You may need to hand your pain relief in to your teachers-check with them about this.
Above all speak to your instructor or one of our female instructors if you are struggling.
Short video by The Brain Scoop about periods on expedition.
Personal Hygiene on Expedition
Not all of the campsites we use have a shower, so please don’t expect to be able to use one. If you are wild camping there will be no facilities, this is covered in more detail in the Campcraft Section.
If you are staying on a campsite with showers and plan to use these bring a small travel towel and small containers of soap and shampoo - you have to carry everything.
Many students have concerns about needing to go to the toilet when in the countryside, often there is no loo all day, so you need to plan a little.
Do not limit your fluid intake, dehydration is very serious and can result in you being too unwell to continue.
Go to the loo before you set off for the day, especially if you need to do a poo. We operate on a leave no trace basis, so that means you will need to bring ALL waste out with you. Have a small dog poo bag to put used tissue and or sanitary products in.
If you need to have a wee away from a toilet choose somewhere discreet and away from streams, rivers and ponds.
The website that the picture links you to is aimed at females, but the principles apply to all.
Remember to use hand sanitiser after you have had a wild wee.
Dare To Be A Wildflower.