Safety in camping is about protecting yourself and the people around you from harm or danger while having fun camping. You can’t say camping was fun if there were casualties.

Plan Out Your Trip

Know the campsite you want to visit, how long you want to stay, the type of camping gear you need, and available camping possibilities. Engage in camping activities that fit with your interests and physical abilities. Be emergency ready. Knowing your limit, know what you can bear. Don’t endanger yourself. Always have a backup plan to contain crises.

Know and familiarize yourself with your campsite

You must know the area you have decided to camp in, from the types of animals there, the nearest hospitals, the closest towns, in case of emergencies to avoid being stranded. Know the area and ensure you have a compass or a map also.

Pack and Store Food Properly

When camping, ensure to follow proper and hygienic food safety practices. Food should be packed in tightly sealed, waterproof containers and kept in a camping cooler. Don’t leave your food out in the open. If your food is not kept correctly, it can lead to food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses and attract wildlife.

Protection from Insects

To protect yourself from insects like mosquitoes, ants, wasps, spiders, or ticks, don’t forget to get insect repellent when planning to go camping. Ensure you wear suitable clothes like long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid direct contact with insects when hiking.

Practice Campfire Safety

Practicing campfire safety can help to prevent severe fire outbreaks at campsites. Fires should be at least 15 feet from tents, trees, overhanging branches, and debris. It’s vital to keep fires small and contained in a confined space like a fire pit. Always have a fire extinguisher near you. It is irresponsible to use flammable liquids to light a fire or focus on your fire, not leave it unattended.

Obey Camp Safety Signs

Follow all camping rules and regulations. Obey warning signposts at campsites, especially at rivers, streams, wildlife locations, mud pits, etc. They are put there to ensure maximum safety. Don’t get close to the wild animals by trespassing in their territories.

Protect Your Skin Using the Right Sunscreen

Sunscreen contains chemicals that either absorb, reflect, or scatter sunlight and protect your skin from UV rays. Use sunscreens with at least SPF(sun protection factor) 15 for protection against sunburns. Reapply your sunscreen every two hours of exposure to the sun and immediately after bathing or swimming. You can also protect other parts of the body like the eyes by wearing sunshades or a sunhat.

Know Your Plants

There is a high possibility of encountering harmful plants when camping. Harmful plants can be lethal when consumed or come in contact with your skin. As with wild animals, it’s crucial that you observe plants from a safe distance and not try to touch or eat them, especially if you know nothing about plants. You need to be able to identify plants when camping for safety and for those around you, like family and friends.

The importance of safety can not be overemphasized.