Camping, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor adventures are massively rewarding, although there are particular safety concerns that you will need to consider when packing. Just as you would pack for safety when traveling abroad for any other type of adventure, you will also need to pack safety essentials to ensure you can indulge in the great outdoors with an absolute peace of mind. The few dangers lurking in nature are significantly different from the safety risks in suburban neighbourhoods and built-up areas such as large cities. To ensure you pack in all the safety essentials, we have put together this complete camping safety checklist. Although, these items are relevant to all outdoor adventures.
A Travel First-Aid Kit
A travel first-aid kit is compact enough to carry around, even if you are hiking or mountain biking. You don’t have to compile your kit either, as there are tons of ready-made travel-sized first aid kits on the market. However, you can modify your kit to make it more suitable for your needs by packing in any medications you may need. Be sure to evaluate the range of available kits before purchasing just anyone, as some contain fewer essentials than others. The compact bag should also be waterproof ideally to protect the contents from bad weather.Plus, having a hiking buddy with a valid first-aid certification is also advisable, as it’s best to be prepared for any possible injuries or falls.
Bear Repellent
Depending on where you will be indulging in nature, you may need bear repellent. This product is available in sprays, and it is potent enough to scare off bears effectively. A bear attack can be fatal, and finding yourself confronted by any breed of wild bear can be understandably frightening without any form of defense. Even though there are practical techniques to ward off a bear when confronted, such as yelling loudly or freezing completely, most novice nature explorers would have the natural impulse to run from a bear, which is a fatal mistake. Therefore, arming yourself with bear repellent is the best defense, while learning other techniques is also recommended.
Bug Sprays And Ointments
It’s no secret that nature is home to an endless list of bugs and critters that you don’t want around. While you may not be able to completely avoid encountering most bugs, you can pack in repellent sprays and ointments that will ward off bugs that can be harmful or simply annoying, such as mosquitos, flies, and others. It’s a great idea to pack in antibiotic ointments and anti-inflammatory creams to treat any bug bites on the spot before infections and swelling symptoms start to set in.
Wasp Spray
Wasp spray for self-defense against human attackers is not the best idea as the repellent’s content cannot disable humans in the same way it repels wasps. However, human attackers are generally not a concern when camping or hiking in nature reserves as rangers and security protect these areas. Because you may find wasps nests outdoors, packing in wasp repellent is a great idea. Unlike regular garden bees, wasps can sting multiple times and are considered dangerous, so arming yourself with a quality wasp spray is worth it when exploring the great outdoors on your next exciting adventure.
Flare Lights
Whether you are a novice nature explorer or an expert, getting lost while navigating the great outdoors is an understandably common occurrence. Instead of merely hoping you won’t get lost, you should pack in a few flare lights to alert nature reserve authorities of your whereabouts in the unfortunate event that you are unable to find your way back to your campgrounds or you have accidentally strayed off a nature trail. It would be best if you packed flare lights into an emergency kit that is lightweight and waterproof.
Protective Camping Gear
Whether you are traveling abroad to explore the wilderness in a faraway region or camping in your own backyard for a fun evening, you will need protective camping gear to protect you from the outdoor elements. While it is best always to check weather predictions to avoid bad weather, the weather can often be unpredictable. Therefore, you should pack in a quality shelter such as a quality tent, your sleeping essentials, and tools to help you make a fire if needed.
Water Filtration And Storage
You may not consider water filtration a safety essential, although, when considering just how unsafe unfiltered water can be, it is essential as it keeps you safe in the great outdoors. There are a few different water filtration devices available on the market, as some are hand-held straw-like devices that will allow you to drink directly from any body of water safely. Others may be larger devices that will be more practical for storing some filtered water while exploring. You will also need to consider each option to determine which is genuinely best for you. However, it would be best if you also packed in water storage bottles to have enough safe drinking water with you at all times.
Research To Prepare For The Unexpected
While there are a few other safety essentials and general essentials you will need to pack in when camping or exploring nature abroad, your best defense against the unknown is to research. A well-known standard is that the more you know about your destination, the prevailing weather conditions, and the type of wildlife living in the region, the more you will prepare appropriately. It is never advisable to explore nature without any actual knowledge of the area. There could be poisonous snakes, wild bears, mountain lions, and various other dangerous creatures living in the region.
What’s more, you should also consider researching the nearest medical care center to your destination and determine how you will get there in the event of an emergency. It would not be wise to assume that medical care centers and hospitals are located nearby as there may not be. In addition to this, you should also uncover a few emergency first-aid techniques that will help you understand how to act immediately in the face of danger and manage an injury until you can reach a medical center.
