Camping: Tips on how to Play it Safe! Published June 29, 2015 By Mr. Rod Krause 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- As summer starts to dwindle and the warm weather suppresses to a comfortable temperature, our tendency to spend time outdoors becomes more often since winter is around the corner. From beaches to lakes to high mountain trails, packing up the family for a trip into nature proves a wonderful warm-weather venture. Special health and first-aid precautions, however, are necessary, especially when kids are involved, and especially if you plan to camp. While the following advice may ring familiar, read on: The value of a jogged memory is well worth the effort. The Essentials · Take along plenty of water, especially when traveling to remote areas or those with a hot climate. · Always carry a small first-aid kit, even when taking day hikes. · Kids get hungry quick, especially with the open energy of the great outdoors. Pack plenty of non-perishable, calorie-dense food, such as granola bars, trail mix, hard fruit (apples are especially good), chocolates, and nuts. · Make sure you know the route, and bring detailed maps of the area. Campground Basics Scope out the surrounding area for any potential hazards, and identify a "kid-safe" zone that is within eyesight of your main camping area. Tell everyone that an adult must always accompany younger children when going further out, and older kids must leave notice of where they are heading. Protect yourself and your kids against potential hazards of the woods: Wear long pants, closed shoes, and socks to avoid contact with poisonous plants and stinging creatures. Never let kids run barefoot in the woods, as this leaves the skin vulnerable to insect and snakebites, ticks, poison oak, and the general hazard of stepping on sharp objects. Always protect yourself and your children against the sun with sunscreen, hats and sunglasses, keeping in mind that harmful rays can penetrate even thick cloud covers. As with all other camping rules, be sure to explain to children why it is important to follow these safety procedures, instead of simply requiring them to do so. Keep all food in tightly sealed containers to avoid attracting unwanted flies and other insects. Also keep your food stash out of reach of prowling animals. Emphasize to your children the importance of not leaving any food out in the open, and of cleaning up after themselves in the woods (remind them--and yourself--never to carry out less than you carry in; this includes all trash). Ensure to keep the campfires at minimum circumference to where it won't spread. Always keep a bucket of water close by and always ensure the fire is out before you leave the camp grounds. Hiking When hiking with children, make frequent stops to rest, have a snack and water, and to observe the various plants and wildlife of the surrounding area. Make a game out of trying to identify the most unusual-looking species of the wild (by sight, never by touch!). Encourage children to carry their own daypack and water. Also equip each child with a whistle, which can be used in case of separation from the group. Outdoor Safety Poison Oak: Teach your kids this simple rule: "Leaves of three, let it be." Poison oak leaves grow in groups of three, almost like a largely overgrown clover. Another poison oak indicator is the roughness of the leaves' edges, which look like a small child has cut them. If you think poison oak has come into contact with the skin, wash the area with soap and cold water (hot or even lukewarm water will open pores and increase absorption of the irritant). Cuts and Scrapes: Any cut that punctures the skin may become infected; this tendency only increases in hot, humid weather. Make it a general rule to treat any cut or graze with an antiseptic, and refrain from using creams or ointments, as they merely keep the wound greasy. Also remove bandages and Band-Aids after bleeding has stopped; they keep wounds wet and prevent healing. If you don't have antiseptic on hand, clean and sterilize the wound by washing it with salt water. Insect Stings: Bee, yellow-jacket, and wasp stings are generally more painful than dangerous. To relieve pain and swelling, use Calamine lotion or ice packs (ice wrapped in cloth will do just fine). Mosquitoes: In addition to wearing protective clothing, avoid highly perfumed products and dark or brightly colored clothes, as strong fragrances and colors attract insects. Always make generous use of insect repellent, especially once dusk arrives. Remember to reapply repellent every few hours, and after swimming or exposure to rain. U.S. Department of Agriculture studies indicate that the most effective repellent ingredient against mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and biting flies is diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET. Look for DEET in topical insect repellents, and avoid repellents with a DEET content that is higher than 20 percent (10 to 15 percent for children); no more is necessary, and higher concentrations can irritate the skin. Non-chemical alternatives for warding off mosquitoes include Avon Skin-So-Soft body oil and pure vanilla extract. Ticks: Ticks are efficient transmitters of disease; always check your kids' and your own body after walking through a tick-infested area. If you do find one or more ticks on your own or your child's body, follow these simple steps. The best way to remove a tick is to pull it steadily away with blunt, curved tweezers. If you don't have any tweezers, protect your hand with a plastic bag and grasp the tick with finger and thumb tips as close to the skin as possible. Do not jerk or twist the tick. When removing ticks make sure its body stays intact and is removed entirely. Any part left behind in your skin will cause inflammation and infection. Other remedies such as Vaseline, alcohol, chlorine bleach, or oil will often persuade a tick to let go, as will a lighted cigarette end (but be careful not to burn the skin). Another removal method is to coat the tick with fingernail polish (clear or colored), which will cause it to suffocate and die. Afterward, it will either fall off or can be brushed away or gently pulled with a pair of tweezers. Once a tick has been removed, disinfect the affected skin with alcohol and wash hands with soap and water. Snakes: When hiking or walking through undergrowth where snakes may be present, be sure to dress yourself and your children in boots or thick shoes with socks and long pants. Warn children not to stick their hands into holes or cracks in the ground, and always be careful while exploring. If a poisonous snake does bite someone, don't panic (snakebites don't cause instant death), but do seek medical help immediately.