Camping is an excellent way to spice up your family vacation. However, top of the list of your priorities when planning the camping trip is your family’s safety. You need to prepare for all types of incidents and accidents that could happen when camping. It all starts with choosing the safest location, especially if you intend to bring young children. An injury can ruin the camping experience and cut short your trip. How do you keep everyone safe and still have fun? Here are some useful tips:
1. Bring Safe Food and Water
Preparing your food instead of buying adds to the fun of the camping trip. However, your family trip may be ruined by illnesses caused by contaminated food. Be careful when packing foods. Separate raw and cooked food and use waterproof containers or plastic bags to pack everything. Ensure that each meal is fully cooked before serving. Wash your hands often, especially before meals with clean water. If you cannot access clean water, use hand sanitizers.
2. Stay Away from Wild Animals and Insects
Insect bites and contact with any wild animals will cause illness. One sure way to keep insects away from your tent is to apply an insect repellent. Ensure that your tent is insulated properly to keep insects like bugs, mites, and mosquitoes away. You need to buy the right camping tent to protect your family. Research the best air tents to buy as you plan your camping trip. Avoid close contact with wild animals. Instead, watch them from far in their natural habitat.
3. Prepare Adequately for Water Safety
If your camping site has a pool or a water body for water activities, you need to plan for water safety. Kids are known to like exploring their environment. Watch their movements around water and carry life jackets and floating devices. The camping sites may provide the gear but you need to confirm their availability before starting your trip. No one should go to the swimming pool or swim alone. Ensure that everyone has a life jacket on when taking a boat ride.
4. Protect Your Family from Temperature-Related Illnesses
Temperatures at your camping site can be extremely hot or cold depending on the season and location. You need to prepare for both scenarios. Carry warm clothing and bedding to keep everyone warm at night. When pitching your tent, place plastic sheeting on the ground to keep the tent area dry. Many families prefer to camp in the summer when the weather is warm day and night. The danger of camping in a hot season is dehydration. Take plenty of water throughout the day, even when you are not thirsty to stay hydrated. Avoid sugary and alcoholic drinks in hot weather.
5. Take Care of Your Pets
Your pets are part of your family and you may not want to leave them behind. However, you must plan for their safety as well. Watch your pets carefully because wild animals may attack them if they wander away from the tent. Ensure that you bring safe food and water for them as well. Watch what they eat when playing outside because they may consume poisonous foods. Vaccinate your pets before the trip and inspects them frequently for ticks. Remove any ticks immediately.
6. Choose Safe Outdoor Activities
You cannot stay in your tent all day and night and enjoy your camping trip. However, you must be careful when choosing physical activities. First, ensure that the weather is right for each activity. For instance, hiking is risky in foggy and rainy weather. Pack protective gear depending on the outdoor activities you intend to do on the trip. Carry sturdy shoes, helmets, and life jackets. As you search for the location, you can check the possible physical activities at your destination. It helps to choose activities that everyone can enjoy such that the adults can watch the kids throughout. While exploring your environment, avoid touching poisonous plants.
7. Get the Right Directions
If you are camping in a new location, ensure that you get the directions right. Getting lost is risky and scary. Do not allow the kids or anyone to wander away alone. Carry walkie-talkies, GPS, whistles, or any other devices that can help you trace one another if you get lost. When you arrive at your destination, identify landmarks that can help you trace your way back to your tent. If you go to a remote area, you may lose GPS signal on your device. Carry a physical map or take a screenshot of the area map.
8. Keep Carbon Monoxide Away from Your Tent
One of the reasons why you need to research the best air tents is ventilation. While you want to keep all insects and animals away from your tent, you need fresh air in the tent day and night. One of the hazards associated with camping is carbon monoxide poisoning. High levels of carbon monoxide lead to illnesses and sometimes death. Do not use fuel-burning appliances in an enclosed shelter. The appliances to use outside your shelter include gas stoves, charcoal grills, lanterns, and heaters. Carry warm bedding and clothing instead of depending on such appliances for warmth.
9. Avoid Prolonged Exposure to the Sun
Direct ultraviolet rays are harmful to your skin and eyes. Protect your eyes with sunglasses and skin with broad-spectrum sunscreen. Stay under shades on sunny days or wear light clothing. Remember that sun rays can reach your skin even on a foggy day. Protect your skin throughout the day.
10. Prepare for Emergencies
The tips outlined above will help you protect your family from specific hazards. However, injuries and incidents can still occur during your trip even with proper preparation. Ensure that everyone is vaccinated before the trip. Carry an emergency kit with a first aid kit, whistle, batteries, a map or GPS, warm blankets and a flashlight among other items. Ensure that you have some contacts to call for help in case of an emergency.
You can enjoy a family camping trip without any injuries or illnesses if you prepare adequately.
