Camping is one of the most exciting outdoor activities which you can either do alone, with friends, or with family, especially if you have the best camper trailer and other important camping equipment. However, camping is not just about fun and excitement, although you can have lots of it. It is also about responsibility, determination, and awareness. Don’t you know that when you camp, you will always have the potential of facing danger? Yes! This is because you are away from home. Sometimes, you would even go to a place where you’ve never been before. Even when camping in National parks, you can’t still be sure that you will always be safe. However, there are safety precautions which you may follow so that possible dangers will be prevented. The initial step is to identify each of the common dangers of camping and they are listed below:
Wild Animals
There are some incidents which wild animals like bears and wolves attack the campers. This is very scary, especially if you are camping with your kids. The best thing to do is to research ahead of time if the place, where you’re planning to camp is safe without the wild animals. If you’re not sure, you should always be ready with your bear spray as one of your safety devices. Plus, you should always have the means for communication like a radio or a mobile phone so that you can ask for help. Your kids should also be trained on what to when this happens so that panic will be prevented. It is important not to provoke the wild animals by remaining clam and not leaving any food that they can sense.
Weather
There are some campers who go on camping and they are stuck because of the weather. This can be dangerous, especially if you will go winter camping. You will be freezing to death if you can’t handle the extreme coldness. This may also happen if you will camp in a dessert as sand storm may suddenly occur. Even if you will camp in the summer, there are cases which you can’t be able handle the extreme heat. So, before camping, know the weather forecast if there are storms coming and always bring a complete set of tools and equipment so that you will always be prepared in case of emergency. Importantly, never forget to bring your basic needs like food and water.
Poisonous Plants
Poison Ivy Rash
There are poisonous plants which can be found in your campsite. You have to beware of the different poison plants to avoid when camping, particularly if you are camping with beginners and kids as they may never know about this. Some of the common poisonous plants are the oak, ivy, and sumac. Once you are exposed to one of them, you may get skin rashes. The best thing to do is to avoid them. But if you haven’t, you should immediately wash it with hot water and soap. You should also be ready with an ointment prescribe by your doctor to prevent further complications.
Cooking and Campfire Accidents
Since you are away from home, you will be able to cook your food over a fire. In fact, you may even use a fuel to start the fire easily. Some incidents have been reported of getting burned due to cooking accidents. This can be very difficult, especially if the health care facilities are far from your campsite. To prevent this, you can also bring your portable stove, provided that you and the other campers know how to use it. You should also bring a pot holder and an ointment in case of burn. Indeed, first aid kit should be on top of your essential list.
Even if camping is still possible without the campfire, it seems like it is incomplete without it. Aside from that, camping also gives light and warmth at night. Any dull conversation becomes interesting when the campers begin to sit down surrounding the campfire. However, the fire can also bring danger. Make sure to turn it off with water before you leave the campsite or you sleep at night. And also, choose the place where there are no trees, bushes, or shrubs that would catch the fire.
Getting lost
There are possibilities that all of you or one of the campers is lost somewhere in the campsite and this is really difficult, particularly if he or she doesn’t have any communication device to contact you. To avoid this to happen, you should know the place well before going to it. If you are not familiar with the place, you should be with somebody who can tell you the right direction. But with the latest technology, you can use GPS or Global Positioning System to give you the direction. You just have to make sure that it is functioning well. When one is going somewhere, he or she shouldn’t go without a companion and a radio just in case of getting lost. If you are with your kids, you should not remove your eyes on them and frequently monitor them. Some may think that getting lost is fun and exciting; but you also have to think of your safety first.
Did I miss something on this list? If I did, you can add more by leaving a comment below. You can also share this to your friends and loved ones. Have a safe camping everyone! 😀
Sam Loves Adventure 