 | Bring
a first aid kit & emergency supplies. We cannot stress how
necessary a first aid kit is. Your first aid kit should
include supplies to treat cuts and scrapes, insect repellent, a snake
bite kit, medications, and sun protection. Additionally, you
should always carry a map, compass, flashlight, knife, waterproof fire
starter, whistle, and water. |
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Learn basic first aid.
Recognizing serious injuries and a basic knowledge of how to deal with
them will enable you to attend to a victim until medical help arrives.
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Check the forecast before leaving
home. Checking the weather report will clue you in to adverse
conditions you might face while you're at camp.
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Get into camp as early as
possible. The more daylight you have, the more time you'll
have to check over the site and setup camp. Always check for human
created and natural hazards. Human created hazards might include
glass and other sharp objects. Natural hazards might include
branches, insect colonies, poison ivy, cliffs, drainages, etc. |
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Properly inspect your campsite.
Make sure that your site is level (or, at a minimum, make sure you
put up your tent so that your head is uphill). Try to find
protection from the wind. |
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Build fires in a safe location.
Never put your fire close to your tent. Nylon and other
synthetic materials catch fire and burn at an incredibly fast rate. |
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Never leave your fire unattended.
This holds especially true when conditions are dry and humidity is
low. Always make sure that you completely put out your fire before
heading into the warmth of your tent and sleeping bag. Winds can
kick up, ignite remaining embers, and lead to catastrophic forest fires. |
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Keep your tent clean.
Your tent is your home away from home. Your camping experience
will be much more enjoyable if you manage to keep dirt and insects out.
Moreover, your tent will have a longer life the cleaner you keep it. |
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Properly dispose of your trash.
Recycle what you can, and properly toss the rest in trash cans.
If you are in the middle of the woods, be sure to pack out all of
your trash. We usually make a habit of trying to pack out
others' trash, as well. |
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Remember the other wilderness
inhabitants. Always keep your campsite as clean as possible.
Do not leave food out at night or while your away from camp - especially
in bear country. If you are in bear country, be sure to hang your
food high up in a tree or place it inside your car. We really
cannot stress this next point enough: never feed wildlife. Every
time that you feed a wild animal you are actually placing its life in
jeopardy. Animals can develop a dependency upon human food.
This will inherently lead to greater interactions with humans.
Many bears have to be euthanized every year because people are
irresponsible with their food while camping. |
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Utilize good hygiene.
Wash your hands after using the toilet. Always sanitize your hands
before cooking, too. You don't want to get sick, nor do you want
to get anyone else in your group ill. |
