Teal Gecko’s Camping Safety Tips for Beginners
Camping can be an enjoyable and exhilarating pastime. Well it can be, as long as you do it in a safe and responsible manner. If you don’t, it doesn’t take much for your camping trip to descend into chaos or worse!
But, we at Teal Gecko don’t want that, so here’s a few Camping Safety Tips for beginners to set you off on the right footing.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Plan Ahead
Tip Number 1 in our Camping Safety Tips for beginners is one of the most important, but most overlooked Camping Safety Tips and is to “Always do your research” before arriving. Make sure the campsite or area you have chosen is a safe and secure one. Make sure there are not any fire hazards. Check for any severe weather warnings, and research if there is any violence or crime history in that area.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Pack First Aid and Emergency Kits
Our Second Camping Safety Tip for beginners is, as the Boy Scouts say “Be prepared”. There is always the possibility of cuts, bee stings, scratches rashes, blisters and the like. Bring along a small personal First Aid Kit containing some antihistamines, antiseptic cream or spray, insect repellent. Include something for pain relief such as Ibruprofen Gel, Paracetamols or Cool Sprays as well as some Elastoplasts, Bandages, Sunscreen and a Foil Safety Blanket.
Your emergency kit should also include at least the following:
A whistle, torch, compass, a small utility tool or knife, razor blades, tweezers, a magnifying glass, water sterilising tablets and a mirror. The mirror can be helpful for signalling for help.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Arrive and Set up Camp in Daylight.
Tip Number 3 in our Camping Safety Tips for beginners is to make sure you arrive early, give yourself plenty of daylight, it allows you to look over the entire campsite and to get yourself set up while there’s still light. When pitching your tent clear the ground of any sharp objects, broken glass, insects, nettles and rubbish if applicable.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Pitch your Tent in a Safe Place
Tip 4 of our Camping Safety Tips for beginners is to always pitch somewhere safe. Ensure your tent is a safe distance from any fire or cooking areas. Pitch it on high ground and not in a natural soakaway path so it doesn’t flood in case it rains. Remember to keep your tent zipped up at all times after entering or leaving otherwise it will be full of bugs when you come to go to sleep in it later.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Brief all Team Members thoroughly
An extremely important Camping Safety Tip for beginners is step 5, to “Brief the Team”. Ensure all team members are aware of any hazards or local rules for the area. Organise an emergency RV or rallying point and make sure everyone is aware of it. Be sure all team members, especially children understand that they should never drink from any stream or river, regardless of how clean it may look, or eat berries or mushrooms/toadstools. Finally, ensure each member of your team has at least a whistle and compass in case of emergencies.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Be Fire Aware
Tip Number 6 of our Camping Safety Tips for beginners is to Be aware of any fire restrictions in the area before building any fires, and, if you are allowed to, and do build one, don’t build it where it could spread in strong winds. If you do build a fire, keep it in a fire pit or sand ring so that it is less likely to spread, and make sure there are no flammable items such as drying equipment too near to the fire. Never and I repeat Never use any cooking or heating devices, including candles inside a tent.
Never leave a fire unattended, and keep the area around a fire clear of leaves and twigs. At the end of the night before going to bed, make sure the fire is fully extinguished by soaking it with water.
Camping Safety Tips for Beginners – Be aware of the wildlife
The final Step in the list of Camping Safety Tips for beginners is Familiarise yourself and your team any wild animals that are in the area. We’re not talking Bear Attack here, but more about the threat of Foxes, Badgers and other Rodents stealing your rations.
Wild animals have excellent senses of smell. Make sure you keep your campsite clean and free of food waste and general rubbish which might attract them. It is best to store all food, and strong smelling things (such as soap or toothpaste) in sealable bags or containers or keep them in your vehicle.
Keep your sleeping bag and tent zipped up and free of food and food odours, and set up your cooking and eating area at least 20 yards from your tent.
While it may seem that all this emphasis on safety is taking all the fun out of the trip, I assure you that being prepared and safe will only enhance it. Keep these simple pointers in mind for next time you go out and stay safe.
