We want you to enjoy the many things to do when you live in Kingman.
So we put togeather some safety hints for those who new to the area.

Prepare Your Vehicle. Make sure you have a working spare tire and jack and know how to change a tire. Make sure it is in good running order. Carry a spare car key, a blanket, extra food, and several gallons of extra water in your car, in case your car breaks down.

Never leave your pets, or your children in the car. The cars will heat up a lot faster than you think! Join an auto club like AAA, and get the extended tow package. Distance are great in Arizona and it only takes one tow to pay for a lot of years for the service.

Lightning. During the Arizona monsoon (summer), storms move very fast, and lightning is a common occurrence. Avoid exposed areas and ridges, lone trees and rocks, streams, and puddles. Try to get below treeline fast. If you find your hair standing up on end or see lightning strikes nearby, squat down low, and insulate yourself from the ground. Try to keep only the rubber soles of your shoes in contact with the ground. Remove metal-framed packs, but do not abandon them - they may be needed later on.

Swimming and Diving. Many Arizona canyons have rivers or pools of water. One should never dive head-first into these pools, and one should not jump without thoroughly checking for depth and underwater obstructions. Also, avoid swimming in the fast currents of the Colorado River.

Infected water. Two common parasites found in outdoor water sources include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. They cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and dehydration. The illnesses can begin in 4-12 days, and can last 1-12 weeks. All stream and lake waters should be boiled for at least 5 minutes. Portable filtration units with very small pore sizes (less than 10 microns) can also be used.

Rock climbing. Rock climbing is an inherently dangerous activity to both the climber and those underneath. Arizona has many loose sedimentary rocks. Never roll or throw rocks down a mountain or canyon.

Abandon Mines - Old mines are all over the place, and a real danger to hikers and off road vehicles such as the ATV or dirt bike. It is tempting to strike off on your own across the wide open spaces, but it is safer to stay on the trails. Recently some kids were riding an ATV along the side of road and fell into an old mine shaft, killing one and injuring the other. Be Careful where you walk and ride.

Cold & Wind. Despite Arizona's desert environment, cold, snow, rain, and wind are commonplace on mountains and also canyons at certain times of year. Mountain weather is notoriously unpredictable. Temperatures can plummet to well below 0ºF, winds can become fierce, and whiteouts can disorient you.

Altitude Sickness. Many people who go too high too fast suffer altitude sickness due to lack of oxygen. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and the feeling of being very ill. Pulmonary edema, a major medical emergency, also can occur above 9,000 feet.

The symptoms include extreme fatigue or collapse, shortness of breath, a racking cough, bubbling noises in the chest, and bloody sputum. Unless transported to a much lower altitude immediately, the victim may die within hours.

It is recommended that one should spend time acclimatizing one's body to higher altitudes, by spending Day 1 at 0-7,000 ft; Day 2 at 7,000-10,000 ft, Day 3 at 10,000-12,000 ft, and Day 4 at 12,000-14,000 ft. Other ways to help avoid altitude sickness include being in good physical condition, getting plenty of rest and sleep, and avoiding alcohol and smoking. Returning to sea-level at the end of a mountain hike presents no adjustment problems.

Flash floods. Flooding presents another unique danger in Arizona, especially in narrow canyons. Water levels can rise suddenly, cutting off your return route. In extremely rare cases, a wall of water can move down a canyon at rapid speeds. These can occur even if it is not raining at your location. Heavy thunderstorms can be highly localized upstream of your position. One should never drive a car through a flooded arroyo, which can be surprisingly deep.

Coyotes. The coyote has grayish-brown to yellowish-brown fur on top and whitish fur on its underparts. It has large triangular ears on the top of its head and a long, narrow muzzle. It has a black nose, yellow eyes and a long, bushy tail. One way to tell the coyote apart from wolves and dogs is to watch its tail when it runs. The coyote runs with its tail down. Dogs run with their tails up and wolves run with their tails straight out. They will avoid you if they can and not agressive to humans. Small pets beware.

Range Cattle. The Supreme Court has held that cattle on an open range and that there was evidence of that circumstance visible to the driver, for example, one side of the road was unfenced and the road crossed a cattle guard before the place of the accident, under those circumstances, the cattle owner owes no duty to motorists regarding cattle on the road since it is not foreseeable that cattle would cause an accident. Bottom line, hit a cow and you just bought it and no you don't get to keep the meat.

The Mohave rattlesnake which is common in the Kingman area, sometimes called the Mohave green, is the “most venomous rattlesnake in the country. All rattlesnakes deliver hemotoxins, which effect blood and skin tissues. But the Mohave also delivers neurotoxins that impact the nervous system. Delivering the two venoms make the Mohave the most dangerous rattlesnake.”

Gila monsters are protected animals, he said. “Leave them alone. It is the only lizard dangerous to man in North America. We used to say it was the only venomous lizard, but we have learned that there are other lizards with venom” that is not dangerous to humans. “I have never heard of an accidental Gila monster bite. Somebody has always done something to this animal to get bitten.”

There are close to 1,500 species of scorpions in the United States, Mocarski said. “Twenty five of the 1,500 are capable of causing death in humans. Arizona is home to the largest scorpions in the U.S. and the most dangerous.”

All spiders have venom, he said. “What makes them dangerous is if they can penetrate human skin. The most dangerous spider in the United States is the black widow. We also have the Arizona brown spider, which is related to the brown recluse, but is not as potent. They are, however, still dangerous. The brown spider is also called the fiddle-back.”

What to do if one is bitten. “Remain calm,” he said. “Remove restrictive clothing such as wristwatches and belts. Wash the bite with water if available. Try to keep the bite area below the level of the heart. Don’t use ice. Don’t cut the wound. Don’t try to suck out venom. It doesn’t work.” And, obviously, seek medical attention.