Indeed, camping is a rewarding experience that you can cherish for a lifetime. This is a great way to get together with friends and loved ones while bonding with nature.
Meanwhile, there are various tips for staying safe during your adventurous long trip. This is especially true for first-time campers. A kit with food, clothes, and medications is a good start, but there are other things to consider.
Check this article to learn more about how to make the most out of your next camping trip by ensuring everyone is comfortable and safe:
Take Note of Medical Issues
As you prepare for your next camping adventure, consider the health issues of the campers in your group. Make sure to bring the prescribed medicines and have a copy of your prescriptions if you lose them.
Have a list of allergies, medications, and doctor’s phone numbers. You must have this information if you have an accident or serious illness. Bring your first-aid kit with you. Ensure it includes bandages, safety pins, antacids, and other medications.
Select the Right Site and Shelter
When selecting the right campground site and shelter, consider your physical limitations, age, and medical needs. This is also true for everyone else in the camp. Various amenities are available if you wish to stay in a tent rather than an RV or a cabin.
As such, you must plan what type of gear is needed based on your site choice.
For example, you can have bunk beds or full beds if you wish to camp in a cabin. Meanwhile, if you sleep in a tent, you must have a sleeping bag, air mattress, and other accommodations.
Cabins and RVs can be safe and offer more amenities than tents. However, many campers still opt for tent camping. You can check different websites before camping.
Check venues with tents, picnic tables, nearby restrooms, fire rings, and spacious areas for all campers. This will allow you to have a relaxed time together.
Be Updated With the Weather
Before camping, check the weather forecast. As we all know, the weather can change within one hour.
It is best to pack your things that are good for any weather, whether it be snow, rain, high humidity, or heat.
Experienced campers plan their trips one month ahead of time to be proactive.
Safely Pack and Store the Food
If you leave food and drinks out on the tables or other places that are not secured, you can increase your chances of attracting animals. To prevent this from happening, you must pack and store your food in a tight and waterproof storage glass. You can also put them in insulated coolers.
To prevent food-borne diseases, wash your hands before eating. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizers instead. Also, separate raw foods from cooked meals.
Moreover, it is best to cook your food at the proper temperature. For example, the ground beef must be cooked at least 160 degrees internal temperature. If you are not cooking your food, you must chill it promptly.
According to studies, one in every five Americans gets sick due to contaminated food each year. As such, it is best to be strict on following food safety practices now.
Be Safe on Campfire
The campfire must be at least 15 feet from the trees, tent walls, and shrubs. Keep it away from your camp chairs, tables, clothing, or other flammable materials. See to it that you keep your fire small. It should be contained in one area only, like the fire pit.
Check with the park rangers or campground managers if they permit building fires within the vicinity. During the dry season, campfires are not allowed because this can increase the risk of having wildfires.
Be active in protecting the environment. Do not bring wood from one locality to another, as this can carry insects and diseases. Instead, buy campfire wood within your campsite.
Moreover, you must not leave the fire unattended. Always have a water bucket near you. Put out the fire before sleeping in the night. Finally, all the embers, not only the red ones, were removed.
Protect your Skin from Insect Bites
Use an insect repellant product with DEET that will not easily dissolve in water to protect yourself from insects.
Follow the instructions for applying the product to your skin. Check for ticks daily, especially on bodily parts that can’t be easily protected. It is also best to wear long sleeves and pants when hiking, as this can prevent direct contact with insects.
After outdoor hiking activities, you must dry your clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes. This will kill the ticks on your clothes when you return home.
Be Ready for Allergies
Packing medications for allergies is a good way to prepare for any encounter. Keep the first aid ready all the time. Watch out for difficulty breathing, dizziness, and swelling due to insect bites or dangerous plants in contact with your skin.
Protect Skin from the Sun’s Harmful Rays
Although UV rays are absent in cloudy weather, they can still burn your skin on a sunny day. The sun is strongest during midday, so it is best to seek shade, wear a hat, and wear sunglasses to protect yourself from the rays. You can also use a broad-spectrum sunblock or lip screen with SPF15.
Drink Lots of Water
Stay hydrated during camping, and don’t just drink when you are thirsty. Drink water throughout the day, even if you are not thirsty. Your food kit must include a water supply for three to five days.
Bring a Travel Berkey or Sports Berkey to store your water supply. Black Berkey® Elements dramatically reduce trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment, radiological, and more.
If you wish to use water from freshwater sources, you can filter it with the Berkey. Alternatively, you can boil the water for at least one minute. You can also bring some water purification tablets containing chlorine, iodine, and halazone. These tablets can kill waterborne viruses, bacteria, and some parasites.
Obey the Hazard Signs
Obey all the posts, especially at the swift streams, the edge of the cliffs, hot springs, and mud pots so that you will be safe. See to it that you don’t climb on the barricades or guard rails to be closer and get a better picture of the wildlife. Do not get out of the rails.
Be Ready for Wild Animals
To prevent food from becoming an unwanted wildlife attraction, store it in your car or container. Avoid feeding and touching wild animals. If you encounter stray animals, wash your hands with water and soap. You can also use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Do not watch bears, snakes, or alligators if you are camping or hiking near their territory. Wild animals are indeed exciting and interesting to see. However, they are still wild; you must treat them as such. Campers often forget the dangers of getting too close to wild animals.
As such, it is best not to approach wild animals. Although they may seem tame, they can attack if threatened. Do not approach their young, as they will always protect them aggressively.
Create Safe Physical Activities
Camping is a momentous occasion for enjoying physical activities. You can do various hiking, walking, swimming, or biking activities during your trip. You should bring protective gear like life jackets, sturdy shoes, and helmets.
Avoid getting near poisonous plants like poison sumac, oak, and ivy. Know your limits. Plan steps to avoid injury during your camping trip.
See to it that you never swim or hike alone. If you have kids with you, make sure that you watch them closely. Experts agree that adults must have 2 ½ hours of physical activity weekly.
Meanwhile, kids must have an hour of weekly physical activity to be healthy and active.
Protect your Body from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. This chemical can cause severe health conditions or even death to people and animals.
As such, you must never use gas stoves, lanterns, heaters, or charcoal grills in an enclosed shelter. This can lead to the build-up of dangerous carbon monoxide.
You can bring additional clothing or bedding instead of using fuel-burning appliances to warm your surroundings. A plastic ground cloth underneath your tent can help you stay dry.
Avoid Temperature-Related Diseases
Drink sugar-free liquids and plenty of alcohol-free beverages to avoid heat-related illness during hot days. You can also consume extra fluids or calories to prevent hypothermia.
Wear multiple layers of light-colored, light-weight, and loose-fitting clothes. Make sure to have some rest in shady areas. Protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun.
Protect the Family Pets and Avoid the Wild Animals
Various wild animals carry diseases that are fatal to human health. As such, you must avoid getting near, feeding, or touching wild animals. Just enjoy watching them from a safe distance in their natural environment.
On the other hand, many campers take their pets during camping. Before leaving for camp, ask the camp manager if pets are allowed.
See to it that your family pets are vaccinated. You can bring proof that your pets are vaccinated because some campgrounds require it. Apart from the document, bring your pet’s food and water dish, plus a bed with you. See to it that he has enough food and a place to rest.
Always keep close to you. You can keep them on their leash at all times. This will prevent them from getting lost or conflicts with other animals. Small pets can be tempting for wild animals like alligators, coyotes, and large birds. Don’t tempt them to be safe. If there are ticks, remove them immediately. Provide your pets with enough food, water, and shelter.
Finally, do not lock your pet in your car while hiking. When exposed to the sun's heat, your car can be as hot as the oven. It is dangerous for your pet and illegal to leave it in the vehicle in some places.
Avoid Water-Related Health Issues or Injury
Camping often includes playing in the water. Don't swim if you have diarrhea to keep yourself and your fellow campers safe. Also, don’t swallow the pool water.
You should bring enough drinking water with you. Invest in a Travel Berkey or Sport Berkey water filter to be safe. These filters can filter clean drinking water and prevent stomach aches during camping.
See to it that you take a shower before and after you dip in the water. If you plan to ride in a canoe, boat, or any other water vehicle, see that you are wearing your life jacket.
Bring a Map
We are used to using our mobile phone's GPS, but you might not have the signal you need in the campgrounds. As such, it is best to bring a map and compass and learn how to read them. Take them with you wherever you go.
Get Vaccinated
Vaccinations can protect you from certain conditions and diseases while camping. Check with your nurse or doctor if you are done with all the recommended vaccines. You can have vaccines for tetanus, meningitis, pertussis, and Hepatitis A. The vaccines will depend on your destination, medical history, and other factors.
Be Alert While Having Fun
Indeed, camping is a fun experience. However, paying attention to your body and how you react to the environment is also important.
Tell your friends and family about your camping plans so they know where you are. Know what you can do when no toilets are on the camping site. You should bring a supply kit with a compass, map, first aid kit, blankets, flashlights, food, and clothes. Know who to contact at the camp when issues arise.
When you get home, check for sunburn, skin rashes, dehydration, and ticks. Please report the problem to your doctor to prevent it from getting worse.
Enjoy the camp, get enough sleep, and limit your intake of alcoholic beverages. Enjoy your day outdoors, bond with nature, and get to know your fellow campers!
Conclusion
The list provided above is long, but some are just common sense. These are reminders of the things that you already know. As with any trip, camping must have proper preparation and planning. If you are prepared with enough knowledge and gear, your experience will be good.
← Older Post Newer Post →