Embarking on a camping trip is such a great experience for anybody that enjoys a touch of adventure. To those who have never been camping before, it is a great chance to indulge in the beauty of nature, breathtaking mountains, and idyllic river banks. But you should read some camping tips before. Because there are hidden risks that may ruin the whole trip if you are not well-prepared.
Before heading off to the campsite, check out what may get into your way plus the best way to handle it!
Related Read: Safety Tips for Camping
Top Potential Camping Dangers to Avoid
Campfire Safety
Campfire-related accidents are the most common causes of camping injuries. It is so easy to become complacent when building and maintaining a campfire, but complacency often leads to disaster. Sometimes when you are camping with teenagers, it may be their incompetence that leads to somebody being injured. If you find yourself in a position where you need to sue for a second degree burn as the result of someone else not being responsible, make sure to hire a specialist lawyer because it can sometimes be hard to prove culpability.
At the end of the day, even if you are camping with friends or family, you shouldn’t have to be hurt because they didn’t take due care and attention when making a campfire. Even though most tents are made from flame-retardant material, it does not mean that your tent is indestructible. Be constantly vigilant about fire safety, or otherwise you could end up setting everything on fire, including your tent and all your belongings.
This problem could be further exacerbated if you are camping in a forest. The recent wildfires in Australia and California have shown just how destructive fire in a forest can be. The secret to building a safe campfire is to build a barrier around your fire with rocks or other non-flammables objects and to keep it away from dry leaves or paper to prevent it from spreading out of control.
Bears
If you go camping in the north or the center of The United States, you need to give some serious consideration to bears hanging around your tent. Bears are crazy about food, and the scent of food can attract them from miles away. Never leave leftovers around your tent or use deodorants or other body sprays whilst out in the woods. To prevent bears from approaching your campsite, let them be aware of your presence by making noise. If they can hear you, they will usually keep a distance, as bears are typically shy.
Before going to bed, make sure to store all your food and hygiene products in a bear-proof canister, which will both shield the smell and make it inaccessible to the bears. In case you accidentally encounter a bear, don’t panic. Try to avoid eye contact with them, back away silently, and take any precautions necessary to get to safety.
Snakes
Another potential danger you should always be alert to is snakes. They are common in most forests, meadows and near rivers. The good news is that snakes tend to avoid encountering people and want to be left alone. Therefore, as long as you are not trying to bother them, snakes will try not to bother you either. However, if you antagonize a snake or make it feel threatened, it can become very aggressive and territorial.
Watch your step when walking over big rocks and through leaf piles, and try to make a lot of sounds to alert them of your presence. Snakes are most aggressive when they are surprised, so as long as they hear you coming, they will usually slither away so as to avoid any potential dangerous confrontation. Essentially, if you encounter a snake, give it a wide berth. For extra precaution, if you are camping or trekking in a place where you know there are a lot of snakes, make sure that you wear long pants and bring some snake repellent to keep them away.
Dangerous Weather
Bear in mind that it’s the weather that is the most unpredictable factor in any camping trip. Bad weather not only ruins your camping trip but can also lead to even more serious hazards. A severe storm followed by lightning, for example, is one of the most hazardous weather conditions for campers. To avoid dangers related to the weather, follow these tips:
- Check the weather forecast before embarking on your trip. If there are any extreme weather warnings, stay at home and save your camping trip for the next time. It is far better than risking your life just to have a weekend away.
- If there is an unexpected lightning storm, stay away from water, metal poles, fences and, especially, tall trees. Head for the lowest-lying area and you have the best chance of staying safe.
- Staying in your tent is always a better option than wandering outside. Even if the rain and harsh winds are unnerving, you are usually safer there than outside in the elements.
- When camping in the rainy season, stay away from low-lying areas and moving water like rivers as there may be flash floods.
Camping allows you to get closer to nature and escape our stressful city lives but it does have many potential hazards. When embarking on any camping trip, be sure to get to know the location first, keep an eye on the weather and make sure that you have all the supplies that you need.
