Camping Safety
Camping offers the serenity of escape - and, if it is combined
with the exercise of a hiking trip, it benefits both body and mind. The
simplicity of camping combined with the beauty of nature can help us readjust
and unwind from our hectic lifestyles. Whether you're in the woods, in the
desert, combing the beaches, or climbing mountain trails, you'll want to
keep a few survival techniques in mind to guarantee a memorable trip.
Before You
Leave
Know the environment in which you'll be
camping. Different terrain carries
different challenges - for example, pitching a tent on sand is very different
from setting up camp on land, and if you don't have the right equipment,
you could find yourself sleeping under the stars on a windswept beach!
Potential Hazards
Preparation: You'll also want to be prepared for any
potential hazards - everything from poison ivy to potentially
dangerous wildlife. Contact park rangers, an outdoors expert at your local
sporting goods store, or research where you'll be going on the Internet or
at a library before you hit the trail. Knowing your surroundings will help
you find out what you might encounter and how you can prepare - or whether
you want to avoid the area altogether.
Practice: If you'll
be hiking to your campsite, practice walking with your fully packed backpack
to get an idea of how the pack fits and whether the load is well distributed.
This helps prevent blisters and strain. It's also a good idea to practice
walking in the boots you'll be wearing.
What to Pack
Here are some camping necessities that you may want to pack:
A water-resistant, easy-to-assemble tent.
Before you leave, practice putting up your tent in
your backyard or living room to make sure it works properly. (But be careful
not to leave any important pieces behind when you set out!)
A sleeping bag. There are many inexpensive
sleeping bags on the market, but you'll want to choose the right one for
your conditions. Temperatures can drop quickly when you're camping at higher
elevations. So buy or rent sleeping bags designed to keep you warm in low
temperatures. Goose down or synthetic (man-made) materials can keep you toasty
in temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius
below zero).
Insect repellent and sunscreen. For summertime
excursions, use sunscreen and an insect repellent that contains 10% to 30%
DEET. Although you can buy products that combine sunscreen with an insect
repellent, these generally aren't a good idea because sunscreen should be
applied more frequently than an insect repellent. Apply the sunscreen
first.
Medications. Pack a supply of any medicines that you
might need to take during the trip, such as asthma or allergy
medications.
A first-aid kit that includes:
-
sterile gauze
-
antiseptic wipes
-
calamine lotion (for stings and rashes)
-
adhesive strips or bandages
-
butterfly closures (for wounds that require stitches)
-
sterile eye pads
-
adhesive tape
-
electrolyte tablets (these replace lost minerals but should be used
with caution)
-
tweezers
-
disposable latex gloves
-
snake-bite kit
-
alcohol pads
-
basic first-aid instructions
A survival kit
-
a flashlight (with extra batteries)
-
bottled water (in addition to your regular supply)
-
waterproof matches
-
high-carbohydrate snacks (such as energy bars)
-
a whistle (this can be heard at greater distances than a traditional
call for help)
-
a thermal reflective blanket (these "space blankets" are light and
easy to carry and offer emergency protection against wind and cold)
-
a pocketknife
Cell Phone:
You may also want to consider taking along a
cell phone for emergencies. Not all wilderness areas have cell phone coverage,
though, so don't think of your phone as your only safety device.
Tip: A cell phone,
if charged, can be used to dial 911 whether you have paid service or not.
Remember that saying, "take only pictures, leave only footprints?" If you're
hiking in remote areas with no waste disposal facilities, you'll need to
carry out your garbage and other unused items. Make this easier by packing
as lightly as you can.
What to Wear
Shorts might seem like the perfect camp gear when you leave the house,
but if the weather shifts from sun to storm clouds, they may leave you with
the chills. Try to bring a variety of clothing, including practical clothes
that dry fast.
If you plan to hike, long pants and shirts made of lighter fabrics
are a better choice than shorts. They help protect against everything from
ticks and mosquitoes to poisonous and thorny plant life (not to mention sunburn).
Speaking of insects, you can now buy clothing that's designed to protect
you from sunburn or has been treated with insect repellents - you'll still
need to use a rub or spray on repellent on exposed skin though!
Layering your clothes, from tank tops to long-sleeved jackets, will
allow you to add or remove layers easily depending on the temperature. And
don't forget to bring extra socks, extra shoes, and waterproof rain gear.
A plastic poncho and rain hat pack well and offer good protection when unexpected
cloudbursts threaten to rain on your rustic
parade.
A hat is a camping essential. If you're bringing
a hat to stay warm, be sure it fits snugly. If you are hoping for it to provide
shade during warm weather adventures, select something lightweight and well
ventilated like a straw or mesh weave. And remember to pack something waterproof
to keep your head dry in case of rain.
Camping
Tips
Although your experiences will vary from campsite to campsite, a few
tips always apply. The first rule to remember is not to camp alone. The buddy
system isn't only fun, it's also smart - there's someone to help in case
of an emergency.
Make sure the folks back home have your camping itinerary and check
in with them at regular, previously arranged intervals. Many park areas offer
an opportunity to sign in at the beginning of a trail. Take advantage of
this system (or tell a ranger at the park's ranger station when you're setting
out). That way, if conditions get rough, your chances of getting help are
better. Of course, most campers breeze through their outdoor adventures without
a snag. But part of the serenity of camping is knowing someone will know
how to find you if you need help.
Your
Campsite
How can you keep your campsite safe, beyond using common sense and the
buddy system? Here are some tips from the pros:
Plan your site. Pick
a clear spot on a hill or slope to avoid potential flash flooding after a
sudden rain. There's nothing like the power of water in motion to wash away
your love for camping along with your gear. If you're in an area that may
attract bears or other wildlife, plan your site so your cooking area is well
away from your sleeping area. The U.S. National Park Service recommends people
sleep about 100 yards, or 90 meters, uphill or upwind from where they
cook.
Don't play with
fire. Make sure open campfires are legal before you
start one consult a park ranger or campsite staff member to find out. Once
you've determined it's OK to have a fire, carefully consider where your fire
will burn. Ten feet away from your tent is a good rule of thumb.
Store food safely.
Food that's not stored properly can attract all kinds
of wildlife, including animals that are potentially dangerous, like bears.
The National Park Service recommends hanging food above ground in special
bags; you can also rent special bear-proof containers at some ranger
stations.
Be aware of what's going on around you.
Make a mental note of your surroundings, including
who is nearby and what they might be doing. Lock your car, even if you think
no one is around. Be friendly, but not too friendly. Be ready for the
unexpected.
Don't forget to take along plenty of drinking
water, even if you're headed to a mountain retreat
where the water looks clear, cool, and tempting. No matter how crystal clear
stream, river, or lake water looks, it can be contaminated with parasites
that make people seriously ill. Sure, packing water may seem heavy, but it's
one of the essentials of camping. Bottles are unwieldy to carry and you have
to carry the empties back with you, so many seasoned campers find it easier
to take along drinking pouches filled with water.
Wildlife species native to remote areas also use the waterways, and
germs from sick animals can contaminate lakes, streams, or rivers. These
can make people sick, too. You can bathe and swim if it's not restricted,
but bring your own water to drink - and drink plenty of it, to avoid
dehydration.
There are many edible plants along the trail,
but don't try harvesting them unless you know what you're
doing. Some berries, leaves, mushrooms, or roots look
yummy but they can make you sick. If you want to harvest goodies on your
trip, study up by reading books or visiting reputable Internet sites before
you head out - and then take pictures with you.
Do not feed the animals!
National parks and other campsites are alive with wildlife,
from birds to bears or chipmunks to snakes. It may be tempting to lure the
animals into your campsite with food just to get a closer look. But do yourself
and the animals a favor and resist.
Wild animals need to stay wild. Not feeding them helps preserve their
survival - as well as your own. It's easy to think of animals like horses
as domesticated, but any wild animal can bite and even smaller animals can
do substantial damage to a campsite. Even if you escape the close encounter
without losing a finger, the next family to land in the same campsite might
not be so lucky.
Once an animal knows it can be fed at a certain location, it will
instinctively return. Just as the next person to encounter the animal may
not fare as well as you, the same animal may not be as fortunate with other
people. Attracting animals to campsites puts them at risk for cruel treatment
from people who may not be as kind as you.
Finding Your
Way
Compass: Getting lost while camping and hiking
is probably the biggest problem most campers face. It's a good idea to learn
how to use a compass and map to get from place to place - most campers have
no idea how to use a compass. To avoid getting lost, stay on well-marked
trails and never camp without a friend or family member along for the ride.
Before you start on your adventure, obtain maps from the park or forest
ranger.
Trail Markers:
If you and your buddy do get lost, follow trail
markers to the nearest ranger station and wait for help to arrive. If you
can't find a ranger station, look for a safe, sheltered place and wait for
help to come looking for you it will if you've followed procedures such as
signing in on trails and leaving information at home on where you'll be.
An ordinary sports whistle is a camper's best friend when it comes to calling
for help. The regular repeat of the clear tone can help guarantee your cries
for help will be heard at distances the human voice can't travel. If you
have a cell phone and can obtain a signal, try contacting park rangers by
phone.
Hiking
Safety
Ask a Ranger: If you
do have an unexpected problem, no matter how small it seems to you, don't
hesitate to ask park rangers for help. Asking directions or advice can mean
the difference between a treasured memory and a nightmare.
If you really want to head for the hills and none of your buddies are
into it, take along a parent or other relative. Sharing the beauty of the
great outdoors can actually help you get to know the adults in your life
better, without all the usual distractions of life. A great camping trip
not only leaves you with memories to treasure, it may start you on a lifelong
passion.
National Park
Service
ASKACOP.org