Safety on public lands Plan your trip carefully 11/20/06 Courtesy of FEMA Respond to this story Email this story to a friend Trees still smolder from a forest fire in Santa Fe National forest. Photo by Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo Plan your trip carefully. Carry a compass and map. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back. Carry matches and flashlights in case of an emergency. NEVER DRINK UNTREATED WATER FROM STREAMS AND LAKES! Those cold, clear, sparkling waters of woodland streams and lakes may tempt you to take a drink, but just a little sip could make you very sick. Even the clearest water could contain an organism that can cause a disease called Giardiasis; its symptoms include diarrhea, cramps, and nausea. The best treatment is to boil the water for 5 minutes. In the summer, you may need to carry the water you need for camping and drinking. Streams may be dry. Be careful when crossing streams. Where there are no footbridges, rocks in streams can be slick and high water is dangerous after rain storms. Pond water is not recommended for human or horse consumption. Prevent erosion by using rocky areas to cross streams and wet areas. Avoid cutting switchbacks. Riding on the trails prevents damage to the area. Wear blaze orange and tie orange flagging to saddles and tails during hunting season. . Scatter hay and manure when camping along the trail. Use tree saver straps. Please don't tie horses directly to the trees. Be careful! Watch for vehicles when crossing roads. Stay on trails to avoid stump holes in the woods. Pack it in - pack it out. Carry your trash and someone else's to a refuse container. (Courtesy of Oklahoma National Forest Service) Rodney says, "Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back."