How to Keep Safe While Camping

Camping can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. Undeniably, the outdoors provide a feeling of peace, serenity and exhilaration like no other experience can. However, if one doesn’t take the necessary and proper precautions to keep safe while in the wild, the camping experience can quickly go from a fun and memorable experience to a disastrous and dangerous one. That said, here are a few tips for you to remember to help you stay safe while camping:

Do ample research beforehand. Never set off on a camping trip unprepared. Without exaggerating, making preparations prior to a camping trip can mean the difference between life and death. Find out everything that you can about the weather conditions during the time period that you’ll be there. Gather knowledge on what type of wild animals can be found in the area (if any) and whether any of these could present as a serious danger to you and your companions. Do homework as well on the plants that grow there and whether any of them is edible or poisonous. You never know when this knowledge will come in handy. Be sure to tell someone where you are going to be while you are away. It’s good to have a small pack of survival gear with you. By doing proper research before hand, you can better know what to put in your survival pack.

Build a campfire with caution. Do not just build a fire wherever it suits you. Ideally, light a fire only in designated fire pits. If there is no fire pit, create one by digging a shallow hole and surrounding it with rocks. This way, you can avoid creating a fire that spreads. Have water or sand/dirt on hand in case you need to dampen or extinguish the fire. If you have children with you, do not allow them to handle lighter fluid or gasoline or allow them to get too close to the fire. Make certain that the fire is extinguished before you leave the grounds and cover the ashes with sand/dirt.

Bring appropriate clothing. Remember that temperatures tend to drop at night even in the summer months so pack coats, jackets, bedding material, and anything else that can help you stay warm. In the winter months, wearing the right clothes can save you from developing frostbite and hypothermia. Bring a water proof, breathable jacket in case of rain. Dress in layers. A good camping tent can help to protect you from the elements as well.

Avoid hiking at night. This is precarious for many reasons. When the sun goes down, it becomes much harder to observe your surroundings. People have accidently fallen down embankments and cliffs because they misjudged how close they were to the edge. Secondly, there are sure to be less people in the vicinity to help you out should any undesired situation arise. Lastly, there could be wild, nocturnal animals lurking around just waiting to pounce on dinner.

Take as much water with you as you can. Running out of food is one thing; running out of water is quite another. Having said that, try to bring as much water as you can with you. Use bottles that you can refill with running water that you find along the way and bring water purification tablets for unfiltered water.

By following these guidelines, you can have an enjoyable camping experience and minimize the chances of any major problems.

Author Bio: Barry Rodgers is an outdoors enthusiast. He has a love of the outdoors lifestyle and has hiked in the USA and many European countries. Currently living in Greece, he is often found hiking with his camping tents and survival gear in the mountains and on the beaches of southern Crete.