Keep Your Camping Experience Safe
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Camping is a great way to relax outdoors. You’re lulled to sleep by the chorus of crickets, can really see all the stars in the sky, and wake up surrounded by the greenery of nature. Camping is also a great way to avoid many annoyances of modern life. To have the best possible camping excursion, you need to think about safety. Here are some tips from HeadPointe on camping fire and water safety, along with advice on what to pack.
What To Bring
A safe and fun camping experience starts at home. Although part of the fun of camping is leaving things behind, Love the Outdoors has an essential list of items to pack. As with a survival kit kept at home, along with your smartphone with a GPS app and phone charger, some of these include:
● Map and compass
● Basic tool kit
● Fire-starting tools
● Extra clothing
● Drinking water and camping food
● First-aid kit
● Flashlights
Solar-powered flashlights and phone chargers can both be quite useful. It’s likely you won’t need everything you pack, but that’s the point, to try to anticipate what you might need that’s also practical to bring along.
If you have a particular destination you love, you might even consider investing in property there. A cabin or vacation home in a location with ready access to trails, fishing, and swimming will allow you to still enjoy your family adventures with a touch of added safety and security.
Campfire Safety
Campfires are essential to camping. However, 90 percent of wildfires are caused by humans, so it’s up to you to make sure you are a responsible camper. Make sure to:
● Build a campfire in an already established fire pit (if you must build your own, make sure it is at least 15 feet from tents, shrubs, trees, and other flammable materials.)
● Have a source of water nearby at all times.
● Keep your campfire small and under control.
● Make sure that children and pets are always supervised.
● Use water and dirt to extinguish your fire, and remember the golden rule: if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
If you’ll be using the fire to cook, keep cooking safety tips in mind as well. The USDA recommends that you make sure your foods are chilled and cooked properly. Keep raw meats separate and keep them on ice. Always wash your hands and your dishes with soap and warm water to avoid contamination. You can get sick from spoiled or undercooked food, so you might want to pack a meat thermometer to check internal temperatures as well. You’ll also need to keep your cooking utensils and surfaces clean. Choose natural, safe cleaning supplies that serve multiple purposes. These products are kinder to you, kinder to the environment, and make for easy disposal. If you’ll be camping in a primitive site, you’ll have to bring enough water for everyone to drink, clean with, and also put out the fires. If you’re off the beaten path that also means you’ll have to carry all that water, and the weight adds up quickly.
Water Safety For Children & Pets
Rivers and lakes make popular campsites, and activities like swimming, boating, and fishing are great fun. But water can be dangerous, especially for kids and pets. You need to look for any signage nearby. These signs can let you know about no-wake areas, dangerous currents, or no lifeguards being present. Be sure to check the weather forecast and updates for flooding or strong currents.
Even if you can handle things, your kids and pets might not. When your kids want to go swimming in a river, lake, or any body of water, always provide constant supervision. That means people who are sober and unbuzzed and can focus on the kids and dogs that might want to play in the water.
Camping Should Be Fun & Safe
Getting away from it all and spending time in nature should be relaxing and enjoyable. To help make that a reality, be mindful about packing the essentials. Then make smart choices about camping and swimming. This way, you’ll be creating great memories and stories to last a lifetime.