Camping is a classic pastime that offers a great way to get closer to nature. However, getting close to nature also means respecting the strength of nature and taking the proper precautions to help keep yourself and your group safe.
Have you packed bug spray? What does the weather forecast look like? Does someone in your group know how to start a campfire? These questions and more are crucial for a safe and successful camping trip. Read on to learn about seven of the key camping safety basics you should never ignore when planning a camping trip.
1. Check the weather forecast.
Nobody wants to go camping and get caught in the rain, so check your weather forecast before heading out on your trip. Look for rain, wind, extreme heat, bad air quality or other weather conditions that can affect camping. Canceling a trip for bad weather is no fun, but neither is sitting in your tent wet and miserable.
However, remember to keep an eye on the sky in case the forecast isn’t perfectly accurate. If you’re headed into the backcountry, consider bringing a portable NOAA weather radio to stay up on the latest forecast, particularly on multi-day trips. It’s also a good idea to learn basic weather forecasting skills that will allow you to observe the weather and make an educated guess about upcoming conditions.
2. Make fire safety a priority.
Fire always has to be treated carefully, but it’s especially important when you’re in a wilderness area. Most campers make a fire at their campsite, so make sure to follow these key campfire safety tips:
Obey all posted fire rules.
Only make a fire within a self-contained area such as a firepit.
Make sure your fire is at least 15 feet from flammable objects such as tents, sleeping bags, brush and trees.
Never leave a fire unattended, even for just a few minutes.
When leaving a campsite, be sure to drown the fire and all of its embers.
3. Don’t neglect your hydration.
Keeping your body hydrated is crucial for safety on a camping trip. Research beforehand whether your campsite is equipped with clean running water. If it’s not, you’ll need to either bring your own water or use water filtration devices like a filtration straw or iodine tablets. Make sure to bring a quality thermos flask to keep your water chilled in any climate.
The best way to hydrate on a hike is to sip small amounts of water constantly. With small sips, the water doesn’t pass through you as quickly, and you’ll conserve your water supply more effectively. If you’re filtering your own water in the backcountry, pick a campsite that’s near a water source and make sure you’ve tested your filtration system before betting your life on it.
4. Leave animals alone and keep your food out of their reach.
If you see wildlife, enjoy the animal’s presence from a distance and don’t try to feed, touch or bother it. Make sure kids know the basics of animal safety, and keep an eye on them any time animals are around.
To avoid animals like bears and raccoons rummaging through your campsite, food needs to be placed in secure containers. Some hikers use the “bear bag” method in which food is suspended in a bag from a tree limb to keep it out of the reach of animals. Others prefer an insulated cooler with a locking latch.
5. Look out for bugs.
There’s another kind of animal that you should also take precautions against: bugs, particularly mosquitoes and ticks. Start by choosing a DEET bug repellent spray that won’t wash off when you sweat. This will help keep mosquitoes, fleas and other nasty woodland bugs away. To ward off ants and bees, make sure not to leave food and beverages out.
Ticks demand special consideration. Bug spray on your skin doesn’t always provide complete protection from ticks, so consider adding a permethrin treatment to your clothing to provide an extra layer of defense. Check yourself for ticks after any hike or outdoor activity, including areas where you might not expect them to be. If you find one, remove it immediately.
6. Make sure your stuff stays safe and dry.
Every camper needs to take precautions to prevent their gear from getting wet or otherwise damaged. Start with a dry bag–a durable bag that helps keep your most essential gear dry in the event of a rainstorm (or a fall into a river). If rain is a possibility, keep essentials like a change of clothes, fire starters, water filtration gear and snacks inside your dry bag. Our friends at Globo Surf have a wide selection of waterproof backpacks that will keep all of your stuff dry and clean.
Make sure your tent is equipped to stay dry if it starts to rain. First, remember to pack the rain fly. Second, avoid the temptation to pitch your tent at the bottom of a slope of any significant size because you’ll get flooded during a rainstorm as water rolls down the hill. Finally, bring a tarp that’s big enough to place as a rain barrier underneath your tent (because tents usually flood from below rather than above).
7. Don’t try to tackle trips that are way out of your league.
Most public car campgrounds have enough safety and support infrastructure that groups of any skill level can enjoy camping there. You’ll still need to be familiar with the basics, but these campgrounds are designed to be beginner-friendly.
However, if you’ve never been backcountry camping before, don’t jump straight to a three-day trip into the wilderness–especially if your group doesn’t have someone with the skills and know-how to handle you in the backcountry. If you’re set on backcountry camping as a newbie, you might think about hiring a guide to help you navigate or bringing along an experienced friend who can show you the ropes, such as how to start a campfire.
As a final note, make sure to check the specific safety rules for the area you’re camping in before you head out on your trip. The folks who care for the campsite will have information they want you to know to make your trip safe, sustainable and fun.