Safety Rules & Regulations

Nature is for everyone to enjoy, but we must keep in mind that areas filled with natural wonders also hide potential hazards, so be smart, think safety from the start!

Safety First!!

To fully enjoy your holiday and nature, take the time to remind yourself of how to stay safe while enjoying recreational activities! 

Your safety is very important to us! Adhere to basic guidelines and always bear in mind that you are solely responsible for your own health and safety! Therefore, pay maximum attention to your physical fitness, equipment, and safety rules before embracing your new experiences.

Safety rules and regulations

Rules for a happy and safe stay in nature:

  • walk, cycle, ride in a group, do not separate from the group;
  • notify your family or hosts about the direction of your walk and the time you will be back, and stick to it;
  • sign into the book of visitors in the mountain lodges;
  • ask and follow the advice given by your hosts, local guides or experienced mountaineers;
  • stick to established trails, don't take shortcuts through the deserted area or private properties;
  • count on the possible change of weather, take the spare warm clothes, a hat and the protection against the rain and the wind;
  • always carry a flashlight;
  • always carry matches or a lighter and a candle;
  • always carry a small personal pharmacy kit for the first aid;
  • on longer lasting excursion always carry a mountain map and a compass if possible;
  • wear solid, comfortable shoes with ribbed rubber soles;
  • during winter be more cautious and remember that the dark falls early;
  • do not go on excursions during winter if you did not get to know the location during summer;
  • do not go on higher hills during winter without experienced mountaineers in the group;
  • do not go into higher mountains after the heavy snowfall for at least three days;
  • gwt2p trails are open to and shared by hikers and runners, bicycle riders, and equestrians. Share the trail and work cooperatively to keep each other safe;
  • follow the weather forecast and warnings.

Safe travel & vacation after the pandemic 

On May 11, 2023, The Government of the Republic of Croatia declared the end of the epidemic of COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus throughout Croatia.

Find all essential safety tips for traveling, entry, and stay in the host country under Practical Information HR and Practical Information BA. 

Weather Information

We need to be aware of the world weather changes; severe weather events are becoming more frequent and more forceful, so it is very important to get well informed, and on time, to safely enjoy the great outdoors. 

Extreme Weather Alerts
Link: MeteoAlarm HR (2-day forecasts for Croatia, focus on Karlovac area)
LinkMeteoAlarm BA (2-day forecasts for Bosnia and Herzegovina, focus on Bihac area)

Weather Forecasts
Link3-day forecasts (Plitvice Lakes and surrounding area)
Link3-day forecasts (Bihac and surrounding area)
LinkSatellite images - EUMETSAT 

UV Index and Sun Safety

Increasing public awareness and interest in UV protection is a very important issue today. UV radiation is running high and it is vital that you take steps to protect yourself from the sun as much as possible. The higher the UV index, the greater the risk of skin damage, the more you should do to protect yourself from the sun

  • Green (0-2) LOW 
  • Yellow (3-5) MODERATE 
  • Orange (6-7) HIGH 
  • Red (8-10) VERY HIGH 
  • Violet (11 or more) EXTREME

Check the forecasts and take necessary sun safety precautions: 
LinkUV Index HR (3-day forecasts for Croatia and Europe)
LinkUV Indeks BA  (3-day forecasts for Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Lightening Safety

The biggest and best rule for lightning safety is not to be outside when a storm hits. It is important to realize that lightning is a very serious threat, especially in the high country. Check the weather forecast, if it calls for thunderstorms, postpone your outdoor activities, or make sure you can quickly find adequate safe shelter in the recreation area.

Even if you’ve done everything to mitigate risk, thunderstorms you don’t expect can still happen. Short-term forecasts are quite accurate, however, they may miss some very localized storms.

Watch for distant lightning on a bright day, if your hear thunder or see a lightning, your first goal should be to:

  • get indoors (a structure with four walls and a roof) or back in your vehicle (hard-top vehicle with the windows rolled up); avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity inside or outside the car;
  • if that’s not possible go to a low place as ravine or valley (be alert for flash floods!);
  • seek shelter in a low area under thick growth of small trees;
  • avoid tall, isolated trees in open areas (they are natural lightning rods!)
  • stay away from summits, ridges, power lines, ski lifts;
  • avoid water and wet objects; if on a boat, get to the land immediately and find shelter;
  • avoid open spaces like lakes, meadows, ponds, beaches, parks, playgrounds;
  • avoid rock shelters and cave entrances, they are dangerous because lightning travels along any surface to reach electrical ground; if any part of your body touches any part of these surfaces, the lightning will travel through your body;
  • do not carry any metal object - metal is also a very good conductor and you are more likely to get burned if you are in contact with metal object when lightning strikes;
  • crouch down in the ball-like position (feet together), tuck your head between your knees and cover your ears with hands; keep minimal contact with the ground - don’t lie down;
  • if in a group during thunderstorms, separate from one another to minimize the number of injuries if lightening strikes the ground.

Lightning fatalities and injuries include burns, temporary loss of hearing, unconsciousness, and other injuries, but the most serious problems are cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest, so the most important first aid is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 

Call rescue services, or emergency medical professionals immediately.

Plan your activities so you’re not outside if a storm is coming, or turn back if a storm is moving in.

Tips, rules and regulations are intended to protect you, but also wildlife and the environment - check them out and follow! Visitors and travelers are a critically important part of the trefoil that contributes to the protection of cultural and natural heritage! Join our Green Mission!

GWT2P - Green Trails

Our regional area has an old and dense network of public footpaths, but due to the lack of agricultural and livestock activities paths are nowadays mostly overgrown. GreenWay Tour 2Parks revitalization plan started slowly and in this initial phase the trails are marked with simple international red and white hiking signs.

GWT2P - red and white hiking trail signs

Parts under construction are marked on a map that you can download on your devices. Generally, these sections can be easily bypassed. The trails are mostly wide and clear stretching from village to village where friendly locals will gladly offer some useful advice or assistance.

For important and helpful tips and phone numbers please see the rest of our Rules and Regs.

Abandoned military airbase Zeljava - important safety precautions

Abandoned military airbase Zeljava is positioned in the center of the GreenWay Tour 2Parks destination, on the main GWT2P „aorta“ near the border crossing Licko Petrovo Selo / Izačić.

It is important to remember that this area was part of the intense military operations in the recent history. A great ecological damage was done with the destruction of the airport and there is still a serious risk of polychlorinated biphenyls, chemicals and radioactive americium-241 from hundreds of ionization smoke detectors. 

Abandoned military airbase Željava is not open to the public:

  • do not enter the premises of the former military base;
  • take care of your safety, you are responsible for it always and everywhere;
  • stick to established trails, don't take shortcuts through the deserted area or private properties;
  • ask for and follow the advice given by your hosts or local guides;
  • be mindful of personal curiosity.

You can find more interesting information about the airbase under Explore Local.

Think - Act Safe and enjoy beautiful scenery

What to do in case of an accident 

  • Don’t panic, keep calm and calm others;
  • Protect the victim of the accident and yourself from direct danger: falling, suffocating, cold, etc.;
  • Apply first aid according to your knowledge and possibilities;
  • Mark the location of the accident or the location where the victim is located (especially in winter);
  • Inform the emergency services as soon as possible.  

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Republic of Croatia

  • primary national emergency number: 112 
  • urgent medical service: 194;
  • police: 192;
  • information points of the Mountain Rescue Services, with a clear mark and name of GSS.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • urgent medical service: 124;
  • Police122;
  • Mountain Rescue Service in Bihać: +387(0)61 144-248;
  • information points of the Mountain Rescue Services, with a clear mark and name of GSS.

The information about the accident should contain the following information:

  • who is reporting the accident (name, surname, phone number/mobile) for possible contact for more information;
  • where is the person reporting the accident from and how did he/she know about the accident (witness or mediator);
  • the location of the accident (detailed description);
  • who is injured (surname, name, DOB, address);
  • what happened (cause of the accident and type of injuries);
  • what was done about the accident (the type of first aid provided, who is informed about the accident);
  • weather conditions on the location of the accident;
  • the conditions on the road approaching the location of the accident.

Call for help in a mountain:

  • the call for help in the mountains or rocks is given by light or sound signals;
  • the call and the response must be repeated until the communication has been established firmly and clearly;
  • the call signals are given six times in one minute every two minutes, and the response signals three times every two minutes;
  • position your body in the form of a letter “Y” - Yes (your body upright and arms raised and outspread) – the position that signals that help is needed as well as firing red flares.

Act - Be safe and explore beautiful nature

Wild Animal Encounter Tips

The region which boasts two national parks and gorgeous Mount Licka Pljesivica abounds in a variety of wildlife, but in this section we will single out two prominent representatives - the brown bear and the long-nosed viper (Europe's most venomous snake)The following tips are safety instructions and the recommendations for better wildlife encounters.

Rules of conduct on bears territory: 

  • walk in a group of at least three (3) people;
  • follow marked, formal or well-established trails during the day, avoid walking during the night;
  • move in a way the bear will hear you, talk in a moderate voice or if alone clap your hands frequently, sing;
  • if the wind is blowing in your direction, or if entering an unclear spot you need to be louder;
  • follow the above to avoid the most undesirable situation - a surprise encounter with a bear.

Rules of conduct when encountering a bear

The general rule of thumb is that bears will attack only if they feel threatened or in danger and have no other choice than to attack or actively defend themselves. Animals, unlike humans, behave in the same way every time a similar situation occurs so we can easily draw out some rules or the patterns of behaviour.

Encounters usually occur in the following situations:

  • when people walk through a bear habitat (forest, mountain, rocks, and underbrush) very silently and very slowly and surprise a bear (eye to eye encounter);
  • when people (usually on excursions) encounter a bear and surround him to get a better look or a better photo;
  • when a female bear has cubs and cubs separate from their mom and find themselves between the mother and humans;
  • when cubs curiously approach humans (this is the rarest of all possibilities);
  • if you enter a bear’s lair, which sometimes happens to speleologists when they want to explore a fissure in the rock or a cave, and surprise a bear in it.

Tips if you encounter a bear eye to eye:

  • if you do encounter a bear react calmly, do not run, do not yell, speak normally and wave your arms so he can identify you as human (their eyesight is quite poor);
  • back away slowly, ensure he has a clear and safe escape route, keep a close eye on the bear;
  • bears can stand on their hind legs to get a better look (they don’t attack in this position);
  • back away slowly and steadily, preferably in the direction you came, speak in an appeasing voice and increase your distance;
  • if you've threatened him and a bear is stalking you than you are in a predatory situation and fighting back is your only option;
  • if a bear does not respond to your shouting and noise, but is fast approaching, curl up in a ball with your hands laced behind your neck, hold on tight, play dead;
  • it is good to remember that bears do not want to attack you, bear attacks are mostly defensive in nature, so let's try not to pose a threat to bears and wildlife in general

Rules of conduct in the snake's natural habitat

When you find yourself in the karst environment, like ours, be sure of one thing - there are some pretty venomous snakes. But have no fear, snakes are very fearful, they also dislike people, and at the same time play an important role in many different types of ecosystems:

  • snakes are a key link in the food chain, regulating the populations of small mammals (rodents) and insects whose uncontrolled populations can cause significant damage to goods such as crops and transmit a number of diseases.

Tips if you encounter a snake:

  • snakes are very fearful creatures and the best method to scare them is to make fast movements or stomp hard on the ground. It is the vibration of the noise that frightens the snake because they are deaf (don't have ears);  
  • wear long pants, sneakers, or hard-soled shoes that protect your feet (not sandals);
  • sit with care, check the area visually and make vibrations by stomping around before sitting down, avoid unclear terrain;
  • in the fall, pay attention to the trees and shrubs because the viper likes to climb into low bushes or trees to bask in the sun;
  • remember - a snake will only attack if it feels threatened. Give the snake plenty of time and space to escape, bang your feet, in most of the cases it would just disappear or make a detour - don’t attack it.

Luckily, we have no records of animal attacks, which only means rules are being followed! 

To get pure enjoyment of peace, space and unspoiled nature we just need to respect the fact that we are entering wild animals' habitat and should behave like a polite guest who follows certain rules of conduct.

And these lovely creatures are harmless animals you'll surely meet while you trail around our 2Parks.

Enjoying the harmless encounters

Welcome!

"If it's not good for everyone, it's not good at all!" Ubuntu wisdom

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