Camping Safety Tips

With a well-stocked first aid kit, plenty of water, nutritious food and
appropriate clothing, your family camping trip is off to a good start. Take these additional steps to plan a safe, enjoyable family outing.

Use the buddy system. Make sure your campers understand they should always travel with their buddy; no one goes anywhere alone. Kids should never leave campsite without telling an adult where they are going.

Give kids a whistle, emphasizing that it’s for emergency use only. If kids do get lost, they should stay in one place. Tell them to find a tree and stay with it, blowing their whistle in sets of three short blasts. Families can also stay connected with 2-way radios, such as the small Motorola types.

Drink only the water you bring to camp, and eat only the food you bring. Keep campfires or grills well away from tents, gear and overhanging branches. Have a bucket of water or dirt handy—or even better, a fire extinguisher. Kids should also be wearing life jackets when you camp at sites near or around water. It is also important to carry a map and compass when in wilderness settings or on day hikes.

Stay alert to your surroundings, especially to changes in the weather. Tell someone back home where you’ll be and when you’ll return.