5 Safety Tips for Your Next Family Camping Trip

Camping is one of the most-loved family activities, especially when your babies are just a little bit older – diaper changing in the dark is not for sissies.

As one of America’s most enjoyable weekend activities, camping has been around for generations – and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Having great outdoors tents is one of the popular way to enjoy your next camping trip with your family. This ensures that everyone stays as safe as possible in the big outdoors. Camping comes with a multitude of manageable threats; you need to be well prepared.

Here are five safety tips for your next tenting adventure:

Watch The Weather

Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than terrible weather conditions. Keep an eye on the forecast before your trip, and don’t be afraid to cancel if things aren’t looking good. 

It is always better to be safe, so if the conditions aren’t ideal but you still want to head out, make sure you pack the essentials for inclement weather. Weather conditions can change by the hour, so be prepared to pack up if things get too hairy.

Plan Ahead

The best camping trips are planned well in advance. Well over a third of all campers like to proactively plan their trips – and at least one month in advance. Planning will give you the time to check your gear, fix or replace broken gear, and come up with a fun itinerary for the whole family before you pack the new family car.

Make checklists of everything you need to do before your trip, and make sure that checking your first aid kit is a priority!

Pack Sharp Knives

Perhaps one of the handiest tools in the great outdoors is a knife, but these are entirely useless if they are not sharp enough. Your knife will be used under some pretty tough conditions, so you must ensure that it is ready for action. 

Use a knife sharpener stone for the best sharpening action, which is a tried and tested method of sharpening knives, and it has been used since the dawn of camping.

Store Food Safely

Never leave your food out on a picnic blanket or table – that is a sure-fire way to attract unwanted wildlife. Pack all your food in tight, waterproof containers and store them in insulated coolers – nothing ruins a camping trip quite like an uninvited bear.

Always wash your hands before and after handling food, particularly raw food – that can help you avoid food-borne illnesses and bacteria.

Campfire Safety Protocols

No camping trip would be complete without a toasty warm campfire. Fires should be fifteen feet away from tents, trees, or vehicles. Keep your fire small and well-contained, ideally within a designated area like a fire pit or cooking area.

The single most important fire safety tip is to never leave a fire unattended – not even for a moment. Ensure there is always someone on fire duty throughout the night – the easiest way to do this is to take shifts.

When putting out your fire, make sure that all the embers are out and not just the red ones. That keeps the area safe for you and other campers and wildlife in the area.