Camping isn’t exactly the most dangerous kind of vacation out there. However, it does come with some risks that should be worth keeping in mind. The perfect family trip can become an emergency situation if you’re not prepared to deal with the dangers of having to fend for yourselves in the wilderness; if you choose to go that far.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth taking the time to enjoy the environment, learn more about nature, and spend some quality time together. For that reason, here’s a few things to know about staying safe while camping with your family.
Prepare for the Environment
Even the safest campsites available, designed specifically for family use, are right on the edge of nature. As such, you should do a little research on what animals and pests are nearby, make sure that your kids aren’t going anywhere unsupervised, and follow some basic camp safety.
This includes not going too far from the camp, not camping too close to water, and not leaving your fire on. Our family camping checklist can help you ensure that you’re being fully aware of all of your needs. Don’t forget about the risk of ticks and mosquitoes, as well. Depending on where you are, they can be a real disease risk so be sure to bring bug repellent.
Eat Safe
If you’re not camping at a community campground that will prepare your meals for you, then you need to make sure you’re taking extra steps to be food safe. Make sure you have a good camping grill and bring a meat thermometer with you. This way, you can ensure your meat is thoroughly cooked all of the way through by testing the temperature at the center and seeing that it’s at the right level to be safely eaten.
How you drink water is crucial as well. Make sure that no-one in the family is drinking from sources of water that could be potentially contaminated. Even if a stream looks clear and fresh, you don’t know what parasites might be in it. Bring plenty of your own water and, if you do plan on using freshwater sources, have a purification kit at the ready.
Know the Weather
It’s best to check the weather forecast in advance to see what kind of elements you can expect to deal with. However, even if it gives sunshine for the whole duration of the trip, make sure that you’re looking at good waterproof tents and have some waterproof gear just to be prepared.
Furthermore, ensure that you’re bringing sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and make sure that it’s full-spectrum, as well, meaning that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Final Thoughts
With the right kind of preparation and a few sensible lessons explained to your family, then your camping trip should be no riskier than any other vacation. As such, you will all be well prepared to really enjoy the wild, make some unique memories, and to get a little distance from the modern world, which is essential every now and then.
