How do you get help if you get hurt while hiking alone?
If you get hurt while hiking alone, stay calm, assess your injury, and use your phone to call 911 or signal for help if you have service. Before you go, tell someone your planned route and expected return time, share your live location with a trusted Guardian, and consider carrying a personal safety app so loved ones can alert authorities if you stop moving or fall.
Step by step
01Call 911 or signal for help immediately
If you have cell service, call 911 and describe your location and injury. If you don't have service, stay put in a visible spot, use a whistle or bright clothing to signal other hikers, and conserve your phone battery.
02Share your hiking plan before you leave
Tell a trusted friend or family member your route, start time, and expected return time. Agree on a check-in time when you'll contact them to confirm you're safe.
03Use live location sharing with a Guardian
Send a live location link to a trusted contact before you start hiking. They can follow your movement in any web browser and alert authorities immediately if you stop unexpectedly or fall and can't respond.
04Carry essentials and stay put if injured
Bring water, a basic first aid kit, a charged phone, and wear visible clothing. If you're injured, treat what you can, stay warm, and wait in a safe spot rather than trying to hike out.
Related questions
What should I do if I have no cell service on the trail?
Before you leave, tell someone your exact route and when you'll be back. Stay on marked trails so rescuers can find you. Carry a whistle to signal other hikers. If you have an older phone or satellite communicator, bring it as a backup. The more people who know where you are, the faster help can reach you if you don't check in.
How can my family know I need help if I can't call 911?
Share your live location with a Guardian before you hike. If you're injured or stuck and can't reach your phone, they'll see you've stopped moving or not returned by your check-in time and can call 911 on your behalf. Always establish a specific check-in time with someone you trust.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.