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Tips to keep camping safe

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Lynard Slaton
  • 87th Air Base Wing Safety
Joint Base MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  If your summer plans include camping, you should follow some simple tips to keep yourself and your family safe in the wilderness. First, make sure you know everyone's physical limits before you head out and take time to plan the trip out. Also make sure you pack the right items to help your trip go off without a hitch. Below are a few additional tips to keep you safe while camping. 

· Whenever possible, use existing campsites; don't wonder off the beaten path. Make sure you let someone know where you are camping and when you are returning. Be sure to camp on durable surfaces and place tents on a non-vegetated area. 

· Camp at least 200 feet from water, trails and other campsites. 

· Keep your campsite clean; pack out what you pack in. Carry a trash bag and pick up litter left behind by others. This will keep the critters away. If you encounter any wild animals, do not approach them. 

· For cooking, consider using a camp stove or a barbecue grill instead of a campfire. Camp stoves leave less of an impact on the land and reduce the risk of forest fires. 

· Observe all fire restrictions. If you must build a fire use existing fire rings, build a mound fire, or use a fire pan. Use only fallen timber for campfires. Do not cut standing trees. Clear a 10-foot area around the site by removing any grass, twigs, leaves and extra firewood. Also make sure there aren't any tree limbs or flammable objects hanging overhead. 

· Allow the wood to burn down to a fine ash, if possible. Pour water on the fire and drown all embers until the hissing sound stops. Stir the campfire ashes and embers until everything is wet and cold to the touch. Use dirt if water is unavailable. 

· If you want heat inside your tent or camper, use one of the new portable heaters that are equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor. If oxygen levels start to fall inside your tent or camper, the ODS automatically shuts down the heater before it can produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide. 

· Do not attempt to use alternative sources of heat or power to warm a tent or camper. Traditional camping heaters, charcoal grills, camping lanterns, and gas generators also can cause CO poisoning. 

· If possible, use a portable latrine for areas without toilets and pack out your waste. If you don't have a portable latrine, you may need to bury your waste. Human waste should be disposed of in a shallow hole six to eight inches deep at least 200 feet from water sources, campsites, or trails. High-use areas may have other restrictions, so check with a land manager. 

· Also be aware of the plant life around your campsite; look out for poisonous and irritating plants such as poison ivy or poison sumac. 

· Following a trip, wash your gear and your vehicle to reduce the spread of invasive species, such as fleas and ticks.