For all of its advantages, being outdoors does require some extra awareness of the conditions—the people around you, the place, and the weather.

• Exercise with a buddy and stay on well-traveled, well-lit paths.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid wearing earphones that drown out auditory signals of danger.
• Follow tips for comfort and safety in extremes of weather; see Watch Out! The 7 Warning Signs of Overheating, Do’s and Don’ts for Hot Weather Exercise and Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Exercise.
• Drink plenty of fluids all year round.
• Travel light and bring just the minimum of what you need preferably in something that leaves your hands free, like a fanny pack or small backpack.
• Park paths and trails are likely to have uneven terrain, so pay attention and be on the lookout for holes and ruts, for acorns and wet slippery leaves in the fall, and ice in the winter.