10 Essential Safety Tips for Camping This Summer By: Alene Laney

10 Essential Safety Tips for Camping This Summer

By: Alene Laney

Summer is on the horizon and now is the time to plan for the family’s summer camping adventure. Your goal is to create and then execute a plan that protects you, your family, wildlife and the environment. You must address safety concerns when you consider a camping location, weather and temperature possibilities, likely wildlife encounters and any health or medical issues unique to your family. This article by Alene Laney offers ten tips for safe summer camping for your consideration.

The article recommends that you bring the camping equipment that will best serve the location of your campsite. Essentials to bring include water, shelter, food and bedding, cooking and cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products. In addition we at Wishing Well Outdoors highly recommend that you make sure that, if any family members have specific health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes, that you bring an adequate supply of the appropriate medication.

Summer camping still includes a campfire when the darkness brings the cool temperatures. Thus, fire safety is always a concern and everyone in the family should be taught and obey the safety rules. Several are listed in the article that are recommended by the National Fire protection Association. Wildlife encounters are to be expected, but you can take measures to preserve their safety and yours. Do not feed the animals that you might encounter, store food in airtight containers and keep a safe distance as wild animals are unpredictable.

Be prepared to battle the flies, mosquitos and assorted pests that you find in the woods.  Bring repellents with DEET to apply to skin and repellents with permethrin to apply to clothes, tents and sleeping bags. Consider bringing citronella candles and anti-bug netting. Always be sure to have plenty of clean drinking water, as it is imperative that everyone is hydrated. Bring as much as you can with you, but also carry a filtration or purification system. Boil water if you have no other options.

The first environmental rule of camping is “Leave No Trace”. Endeavor to leave the area of your campsite in the same condition in which you found it. Do your washing at least 200 ft from any water source and sparingly use biodegradable soap. Take your trash with you and learn how to dispose of waste properly. Even in the Summer nights can get cold, so be sure to bring a pad or other layer to be between you and the cold ground. Sleeping with a hot water bottle will help to warm you in your sleeping bag, but avoid brining gas heaters into you tent. The risks are just too high!

Avoid getting lost by staying on the trail and using the buddy system. Bring a compass and a cell phone with you. If you do lose your way, do not wander off the trail. Try your cell phone, keeping in mind that texts could get through when a call would not. Never go on a camping trip without telling someone where you are going and how long you expect to be away.

The advice in this article should give you a thorough understanding of how to prepare for that summer camping trip. We recommend that you read the full article. To do so, just click here or on the article’s title below the featured image at the top. We hope that this discussion has been informative and helpful. If you need any gear for your next camping trip, please visit the camping section of our storefront.