Camping Safety Tips

September is
National Preparedness Month, so it’s a good time to review your camping
safety plans to protect your family from illness or injury. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention offers the following 10
suggestions: 

1.      Get
vaccinated. Check with your doctor to see which vaccines he or
she recommends.

2.     
Prepare safe food. Pack foods in waterproof
containers and keep them in an insulated cooler. Also, wash your hands and
surfaces often and cook foods to proper temperatures.

3.     
Include safe physical activities. Bring
protective gear such as helmets, sturdy shoes and life jackets. Learn how to
identify poisonous plants like poison ivy so you can avoid them, and know
your limits so you can avoid injury.

4.     
Protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can lead to illness or death in
people and pets. Never use fuel-powered equipment such as gas stoves, heaters
or lanterns inside a tent or camper.

5.     
Avoid wild animals and protect family pets. Avoid touching and feeding wild
animals and keep your food in sealed containers that they can’t get into.
Make sure your pets are vaccinated, keep a close eye on them and check to see
if they have any ticks that need to be removed.

6.     
Fight bug bites. Mosquitoes, ticks and other
insects can carry diseases. Apply insect repellant containing DEET to exposed
skin, carefully following package directions. Wear long sleeves and pants and
light colored clothing to help prevent ticks and to be able to spot them more
easily.

7.     
Prevent temperature-related illness. Stay
hydrated by drinking plenty of alcohol-free and sugar-free fluids and don’t
wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Stay in the shade as much as possible
when it’s hot and bring plenty of warm clothing and blankets for cool
nights.

8.     
Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV)
radiation from the sun can reach you all year, even on cloudy and hazy days.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and lip screen containing at least SPF 15 that
protects against UVA and UVB rays. Seek shade during midday when the sun’s
rays are at their strongest and wear a wide-brimmed hat and
sunglasses.

9.     
Avoid water-related illness and injury. Don’t
swallow the water you swim in and take a shower before and after swimming.
Never swim alone, and wear a life jacket when riding in a boat, canoe or
other water vessel.

10.  Be prepared. Check the
weather report before you leave home and bring essentials like a first aid
kit, flashlight and any medications you might need. Know who to contact at
your campground if any issues come up.