Camping is a wonderful way to make the most of your summer. You get the chance to unplug, unwind, and reconnect with the beautiful world around us. Camping should be a relaxing and fun experience, but for an unfortunate few each year, it leads to unsafe conditions. Illness and injury are a surefire way to cut your camping trip short! Follow these simple tips to make sure your getaway is a safe one.

Protecting Yourself

Before taking off on your camping trip, you need to protect yourself against potential illnesses you’ll encounter. Talk with your doctor about the details of the trip and your past medical history to learn what vaccinations you need before arriving at the camp site. These vaccinations could include hepatitis A, tetanus, and more.

Food and Water Safety

Next, you need to start thinking about the food and water for your trip. You should separate your food in groups of perishables, non-perishables, and raw items. Perishables and raw items will need to be kept cold in an insulated cooler. We recommend packing each item into a waterproof bag so the moisture in the cooler doesn’t ruin the food. If you plan to cook over the fire, make sure all foods are heated to a safe temperature to prevent illness. Contact your camping site to find out what clean water sources are available or pack your own clean water. You should never drink from streams or other natural water sources because they could be contaminated.

Come Prepared

You should come fully prepared for all the activities you have planned. That includes bringing helmets for bike riding, sunscreen, bug spray, and life jackets. It’s safer to overpack and not use some of the items you bring than to under pack and suffer an injury. Keep a close eye on all your family members, including pets and children. Catching the signs of dehydration at an early stage or reminding them it’s time to reapply their SPF will keep them safe during your camping trip.

If you’re an inexperienced camper, try to find someone more experienced to tag along. Even if they can’t come with you, they’ll surely be able to share some tips and tricks they’ve learned along the way. Remember, the more you prepare before the camping trip, the more fun you’ll be able to have without worrying if you’re being safe or not!