Upon arriving at your site, inspect the ground thoroughly for glass, poison ivy, large dead animals, and other potential
hazards. Clean up the area, removing any rocks or branches before erecting your makeshift home. Make sure that the ground is as dry as
possible and as level as possible.
Remember to be kind to the environment. Leave the campsite just how you found it or even cleaner. Use products that reduce waste, such
as no-rinse soap. Don't leave any garbage behind, and burn what debris you can... When your fire has died down, scrape the remains
into the center and bury the ash so that you don't kill the grass that surrounds it. Take any charred wood with you. The cleaner you
leave the site, the more likely it will be that the next campers will respect it as well.
We think you should carefully consider the following safety tips:
· Remain calm. As impossible as it sounds, you must not panic.
· Avoid camping alone in isolated areas. Ever hear of the Boogeyman?
· Park your vehicle so it cannot be blocked by another vehicle in case of emergency.
· We suggest that you do not bring pets. Leave them home, and make sure that you have someone checking up on them. Pets easily get lost
in the wilderness.
· Familiarize yourself with local emergency locations and phone numbers.
· Avoid leaving your camping gear unattended.
· Get to know your camping neighbors, and help protect each other's belongings.
· Avoid walking alone at night. Again, the Boogeyman.
· Carry a spare lock so you can use storage containers available at many parks.
· Always lock your camping trailer towing hitch so your trailer cannot be towed away.
Before taking weapons with you, be aware of regulation. In many parks and wildlife refuges it is illegal to carry weapons.
You might accidentally shoot the Boogeyman, and then his Boogeywife will be after you.
Once you've digested all that, there are other issues to deal with, including ...
Bears
While bears generally won't harm you, there are certain steps you can take to avoid having one rip your face off. When hiking, carry
pepper spray and keep a sharp eye out for bear evidence (such as poop larger than your boot). Tightly seal off ALL food, drinks,
garbage, and anything else with a scent from tree branches in tightly-wrapped double baggies. If you see a bear, NEVER approach it...
haven't you ever seen When Animals Attack? Don't panic, and don't run. Calmly back away. If the bear charges, then lie facedown on the
ground, covering your neck with your hands. But whatever you do, don't fight back - the bear will interpret this to be an aggressive
act, making it even angrier.
Pests
By "pests" we mean mosquitoes and wild animals - not your little brother. Unless you want to attract swarms of bugs, avoid wearing
bright colors and perfume (guess those atomizer-wielding department store ladies should stay behind the cosmetics counter if they
know what's good for them). Use repellent for mosquitoes, and keep your campsite clean. Wash dishes and cooking equipment thoroughly
and seal up garbage in plastic bags and containers until it can be disposed of safely.
Ticks
You can keep ticks off your hair and body by wearing a hat, tucking your pants into your socks, and wearing
long sleeved shirts and light colors (ticks will show up better and can be removed sooner). Check yourself frequently. If found, ticks
can be removed using a pair of tweezers and some patience. Lyme disease is a possible consequence of contact with ticks. Symptoms
include a flat or slightly raised lesion that is up to several inches in size, fever, headache, lethargy, muscle pains, stiff neck and
joint inflammation. If you exhibit any of these, seek medical help ASAP. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics if caught early
enough, but it can also cause major health problems in the heart, nervous system and joints if left to run its course. More information
about Lyme disease can be found here.
Poison ivy, oak and sumac
As they say, leaves of three, let it be. (Huh? Do they really say that?) In other words, be on the lookout for leaves with three
leaflets. They're bad. Since you will already be wearing long sleeves and tucked in pants to avoid ticks, you should be relatively
safe from poison ivy as well. If you still manage to get a rash, wash the area with soap and cold water as soon as possible. Also,
lather up your clothes and gear. Urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol), the ingredient in sap that causes allergic reactions, can spread very
easily if not controlled. Contrary to popular belief, poison ivy rashes are not contagious from person to person - there must be
direct contact with urushiol. To relieve the rash, take cool showers and rub calamine lotion on infected areas. Antihistamines
such as Benadryl will also relieve itchiness, and usually cause drowsiness so you can get a good night's sleep. A warm bath with
oatmeal or baking soda will alleviate pain from oozing sores and itchiness.
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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