Getting away with your family or friends to a camping destination is an ideal way of having fun. It involves a lot of activities like hiking, making campfires, grilling food, and spotting wild animals. It also provides you the opportunity to bond as a group and create lasting memories. However, you can easily get carried away with all the fun activities and end up forgetting to take necessary safety precautions.
Well, if injuries and casualties are not part of your plan, you need to be well prepared not only to avoid but also effectively handle them. We have compiled a list of the top 10 camping tips for your safety when camping. These are:
1. Plan in Details
Does anybody ever enjoy the preparation process for camping? Maybe only an exceptional few. Most people consider preparation and packing the least favorite part of camping. Yet in the real sense, preparing well is the only way to ensure a great camping experience. These are some of the things to do for a perfect preparation routine;
- Get your facts right – Determine where you are headed for camping, the number of those coming along and the number of days you will spend to help you in resource allocation.
- Sort the medical needs – Take into account every special medical condition among those headed for camping. Confirm any allergies and inform everyone attending about it. Inquire from your doctor the need for vaccination against diseases like tetanus, meningitis, or pertussis, depending on your destination and medical history.
- Have a meal plan – Knowing how everyone will be feeding helps when shopping and packaging.
- Have a checklist for packing to avoid forgetting the needed items.
2. Bring the Right Gear
Bringing along the right camping safety gear can be the difference between fun-filled times away from home and a disastrous excavation. Other than the tents, do not forget to carry an emergency kit that contains a map of where you are, a first aid kit, and a flashlight. You should also include lanterns, fuel, sleeping bags, and warm clothing.
3. Protect Yourself from Wild Animals
Camping in a forest means going to the natural habitat of the wild animals, and you can easily be tempted to interact with them at close range. Kill that thought. You need to take caution as some wild animals can infect you with dangerous diseases.
Here is how to keep safe from wild animals:
- Carry a flashlight to spook away animals at night.
- Use heavy-duty garbage bags to dispose of trash if you are in an area that does not provide a means of garbage collection.
- Use granular or liquid repellents to keep the animals away from the campsite. Repellents made of natural ingredients are suitable for protecting your family and the surrounding environment.
- Place boxes of fabric softener sheets around the tent as most animals cannot withstand the fragrant odor.
- – If you’re camping in bear country, read up on bear safety (here’s a great guide by Survivalmag) and park regulations in your area.
4. Indulge in Safe Physical Activities
Camping involves a lot of physical activities like biking, hiking, walking, and swimming for fun and to stay active. Make sure that you bring along protective wears like life jackets, sturdy shoes, and helmets. Avoid taking the physical activities alone for easy assistance in case of emergency.
5. Ensure Cleanliness
Don’t think that when away from home you won’t have cleaning to do. Keep your tent and surroundings clean to avoid injuries and contracting diseases through contamination.
How will I go to the bathroom in the woods? You are most probably wondering about that already.
It has several solutions. Consider buying a camping toilet that you can easily set up in a camper van, RV, or by the tents. You can also opt to bury or pack out waste or use a poop tube. It all depends on the camping site’s local regulations.
6. Prepare for different weather elements
Research the weather conditions of the camping area at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before you arrive. Knowing the weather will ensure you carry the right clothing.
These are some of the ways to protect from the different weather conditions:
- Carry sunscreen to protect your skin from sun poisoning and burns.
- Stay in your car during a lightning storm and avoid touching any metal.
- Always carry a rain jacket or an emergency poncho for use in case of rain, strong winds, and storms.
7. Ensure fire safety
While a campfire is the ideal source of warmth for you and your family during the nights, they can be extremely dangerous if mishandled. Pick a campfire site in an open and level spot away from the tents. Extinguish the fire when done to prevent a wildfire. This guarantees other families like yours can have a beautiful forest for similar camping, and a habitat for the wildlife.
8. Be Cautious
Getting lost while camping is a dreadful experience, you never know what you might encounter in unfamiliar territories. Carry along maps and locators when you start the adventure. It is also helpful if at least one of you is experienced on the trail.
Consider carrying a whistle to use in helping the others locate you when lost.
9. Create safety rules for kids
Are you considering bringing along kids for the adventure? Do not worry, it is a good opportunity to teach them outdoor settings and for bonding. The only concern is that you will need some special safety rules for the outdoor environment like:
- Stay together in every activity you get involved in.
- No moving past the set boundaries within the campsite.
- Avoid dangerous plants and animals (identify dangerous plants and animals).
- Do not eat anything you find in the woods.
- Wear shoes all the time.
10. Ensure food safety
To avoid carrying more food than you need which leads to wastage, create a list for all the meals you will have during your stay. Leaving food in open and insecure places can easily attract wild animals.
Pack food in tight and waterproof containers, or breather mesh in case of fresh produce and vegetables. Most importantly, follow the right procedure when handling food to avoid getting sick from contaminated food.
Conclusion
Camping is an ideal way to enjoy time with your family and friends away from the grid. Ensure that you carry the right camping gear, enough food and generally keep safe for the best outdoor experience.
Do not hesitate to ask for help from forest authorities if you encounter any problem you consider extreme.
About The Guest Author:
Since the age of 10, Tim, a writer at Outdoor With J, has enjoyed camping in the great outdoors. Although he loves the peace and quiet of the outdoors, he also likes his creature comforts. Tim’s mission is to make camping a fun and comfortable experience for all.
