Safety is the top priority on every camping trip, from short-term to long-term
Camping is becoming increasingly popular not only among young people but also with many parents who want to create opportunities for their children to experience nature and get away from technology. Whether you only have time for a short picnic or a camping trip lasting a few days, safety must always be a top priority.
A camping trip can be flexibly extended depending on the needs and conditions of each family or group of friends. For families with young children, a day of camping from morning to afternoon in cool and not too crowded areas is enough to enjoy time together and fresh air. Meanwhile, young people who love to explore can choose longer trips, from 2-3 days or even longer to explore new lands.
Whether it is a short or long trip, being fully prepared and safe is extremely important. Not only do you need to bring a tent, stove and food, but you also need to be equipped with basic survival skills to ensure a smooth and safe trip. To have a successful camping trip, you need not only experience but also the ability to handle situations to cope with any unexpected circumstances.
Survival Skills You Need to Know for Every Trip, From Short to Long
1. Prevent Sunstroke
- Wear the right clothes: To protect your body from the effects of sunlight, choose loose, light and light-colored clothes, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and use sunscreen.
- Drink enough water: Make sure to drink water regularly to prevent dehydration, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Avoid the hot sun: Limit being outdoors during hot weather and avoid strenuous physical activities in the sun.
2. Preventing Insect Bites
- Choose clothes: Wear modestly colored clothes, avoid bright colors to avoid attracting insects.
- Use insect repellent Apply insect repellent and use items such as orange, lemon, and onion peels to repel insects.
- Burn essential oil candles: When night falls, use scented candles containing essential oils to keep insects away.
- Avoid wet areas: Try not to camp in wet places or places with lots of rotten leaves, as these are favorite places for many types of insects.
3. Hydrate Your Body
- Drink water regularly: Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you still need to drink enough water.
- Choose reasonable drinks: Drink water mixed with salt, ORS solution, or fruit juice, and stay away from carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks.
4. Food Storage
- Use an ice chest: Choose an ice chest to store food, or a styrofoam box for short camping trips.
- Pre-trip food handling:
+ Meat: Wrap raw meat in multiple layers of bags to prevent juices from leaking and place in the freezer before your trip. Place raw meat at the bottom of the ice chest.
+ Vegetables and fruits: Pick and remove spoiled parts, use airtight zip bags to preserve and avoid crushing.
+ Beverages: Chill drinks before putting them in the ice chest to keep them cold longer.
5. Avoid Germs Transmission
- Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet and before preparing meals.
- Using spoons: Avoid using your hands to pick up food, instead use spoons to ensure hygiene, especially when sharing food with others.
6. Medical Supplies to Bring When Traveling or Camping
Medical supplies are essential for every trip or camping trip, whether you are going for a long time or just for a day. The list of medical supplies may vary depending on your needs and personal health, but the following items are essential:
- Antiseptic Wipes: Preferably use wipes containing Benzalkonium or alcohol to clean wounds.
- Antibacterial Ointment: For example, bacitracin to treat minor wounds.
- Adhesive Bandages: Choose fabric adhesive bandages to cover wounds.
- Medical Pads: Use for open wounds to protect and prevent infection.
- Gauze Pads: Prepare different sizes to deal with wounds.
- Sterile Tape and Medical Tape: To bandage and keep wounds clean.
- Blister treatment: To relieve pain and soothe blisters.
- Pain relievers, fever reducers, diarrhea, electrolytes: To treat common symptoms.
- Insect bite and anti-itch medications: To protect against insects and soothe itching.
- Antihistamines: To treat allergies.
- Tweezers, specialized scissors, thermometers, medical gloves, antibacterial hand sanitizer: To treat wounds and check health.
- Sunscreen, sunburn gel: To protect skin from the effects of sunlight.
7. Basic First Aid Skills You Need to Know When Traveling
On your journey, you may encounter emergency situations such as scratches, injuries or broken bones. Here are some basic first aid skills:
1. Stop Bleeding
- Minor Wounds: Use a clean towel to remove dirt and press the wound to stop the bleeding. Then, bandage it with urgo or clean gauze.
- Heavy bleeding wounds: Use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. If there is no tourniquet, use a rubber band or cloth to tighten the upper part of the wound to prevent blood from flowing down.
2. Bandaging
- Spiral bandage: Used for wounds on evenly sized parts such as the wrist. Wrap the gauze twice to secure it, then continue to bandage until the wound is covered.
- Human bandage: Applied to wounds on unevenly sized parts such as the elbow.
- Figure 8 bandage: Used for areas such as the shoulder, armpit, groin, to bandage the wound with diagonal bandage lines.
3. CPR and Chest Compression
- First aid for drowning: Move the victim to a dry place, use a clean towel to clean the phlegm. Then, place your hands on your sternum and perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions to restore respiratory function.
8. Some Techniques You Need to Know to Ensure Your Health
1. Walk Correctly
- Keep a reasonable walking speed, do not speed up unnecessarily.
- Keep your breathing steady and focus on the terrain to avoid falling or back pain.
- Rest when necessary and tie your shoelaces tightly before setting off.
2. Carry and Wear a Backpack Correctly
- Wear the backpack on both shoulders to distribute the weight evenly.
- Always keep your back straight when wearing a backpack to avoid back pain and protect your health.
These skills and items will help you ensure your safety and health on every trip or camping trip, bringing a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
