These summer camping safety tips should help keep your family safer while enjoying camping almost anywhere during the summer.
Family camping trips are fun and give family a sense of shared adventure. However you want to make sure that you and your family remains safe while enjoying your time in the outdoors.
These summer camping safety tips are also good for late spring and early fall. This is because camping in the late spring and early fall will be close to summer camping.
Meanwhile, camping in the early spring and late fall will call for the same safety measures as winter camping. You may like to read our winter camping safety tips article.
Summer Camping Safety Tips
If you are planning on camping in the summer here are some tips you are going to want to follow to help ensure that your trip is as safe as possible.
Bring Adequate Clothing
Even if you are camping in the hottest months of the year, you want to make sure that you include some long pants and long sleeved shirts as well as jacket (waterproof is best) in case the weather should suddenly turn.
Make Sure You Have Ready Access to Safe Drinking Water
Staying hydrated is important any time of the year. But spending most of the day out of doors during the summer can often lead to dehydration.
Keep plenty of safe drinking water on hand and make sure that your children drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Prepare Your Campsite Prior to Setting up Camp
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Make sure that the area you plan to use as your living space during your camping trip is clean and relatively flat.
If possible treat the living area with a chemical free product to prevent fleas and ticks and place your tent, eating and seating areas away from tall grass.
Plan Physcial Activities for Mornings and Late Afternoon
Don’t stay out in the sun for extended periods. Make sure there is shaded place that you go to during the hottest part of the day. And use that time for less active activities with your family.
Teach Your Children Never to Approach Any Wild Animals
Viewing and enjoying the wildlife at camp is part of the fun of camping. But you should teach your children to view wild animals from afar. They should never approach any wild animal as they can be dangerous or even carry rabies.
Stay on Hiking Trails
This seems to be one of the most ignored summer camping safety tips. When hiking, remain on the hiking trails. This will not only prevent you from getting lost, but will also help you avoid picking up ticks.
When hiking, always wear light colored clothing and make sure you wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pants into socks and your shirt into the top of pants to help keep ticks from gaining access to your body.
Use Life Jackets
If any type of boating is part of your camping plans, make sure that everyone (even the best swimmers) have life jackets and wear them.
Make sure your children understand they need to sit still in rowboats and not stand up or move around.
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Keep a Bucket of Water by the Campfire
Always keep a bucket filled with water near the fire to avoid your campfire getting out of control. And to put out your fire at night or when you are going to be away from camp.
In addition to these summer camping safety tips always use your best judgment while camping and your trip should go off without a hitch.
Here are some general camping safety tips:
General Safety Tips for All Seasons
There are some general safety measures that you need to use no matter what time of year you decide to go camping. These general rules will help to keep your family safe regardless of the weather.
Safety Starts Before You Leave Home
Camp safety should begin before you ever leave home. So ensure that you pack all the essentials and make adequate preparations for your camping adventure.
Spell out Camp Rules
Whether this is your first time camping or your 100th you need to go over the camp rules with your children. This will help them understand what will be expected of them once they get to camp.
This includes younger children asking permission to go to play areas and teenagers telling you where they plan on hiking.
Leave Your Itinerary with Family or Friends
When camping you are going to leave an itinerary with trusted family members or friends.
This itinerary should cover travel times and where you will be stopping on the way to your campground.
It should also cover when you plan on being back and a list of activities or sights you plan on seeing.
You don’t have to list specific times you will be fishing or hiking, or when you will be visiting a site.
But having a list of where you plan on going during your camp out will help locate you should you fail to return or call at the appointed time.
Make Sure Your Entire Family is Caught Up on all Vaccinations
Scrapes, bruises, and small cuts are part of the camping experience. However, you want to make sure that your family is protected from contacting tetanus or other preventable diseases or conditions.
Make Sure You Have a Adequate First Aid Kit
While most camping trips are completed without any cuts or scrapes you are going to want have a first aid kit on hand should cut or burn occur.
Make Sure Your Food is Properly Stored
You want to make sure that all food is properly stored, which includes having a way to keep food cold that is raw or for leftovers.
If you are camping in more primitive areas make sure that all food is stored in an enclosed container. This will make it difficult or impossible for wildlife to get into. (You may also want to read camping food storage ideas)
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I hope you find these summer camping safety tips helpful as you plan for your family adventure this summer.
I have been thinking of doing some camping in Sedona and I am glad I came across this. There are some very valuable points to remember as it has been well over twenty years since I went camping last.