Top 10 Camping Safety Tips

June — Camping

Campgrounds fill up and so do emergency rooms.

1. Check fire restrictions before you go, and keep fires in established rings.
2. Drown, stir, drown again. A fire is out when it's cold to the touch. Never leave one unattended.
3. Never burn fuel inside a tent, camper, or vehicle. Stoves, lanterns, and grills produce carbon monoxide, which is odorless and kills people in their sleep.
4. Store food, trash, and scented items properly — canister, hang, or hard-sided vehicle. Nothing with a smell goes in the tent.
5. Pick your site with your eyes up and down. No dead limbs overhead, no dry washes or low spots underfoot.
6. Treat your water. Filter, boil, or chemically treat everything that isn't from a tap.
7. Have a lightning plan. Hard-topped vehicle or substantial building; leave the ridgeline and the lake.
8. Do tick checks daily and treat clothing with permethrin. Check the scalp, waistband, and behind the knees.
9. Keep wildlife wild. Never feed anything, and keep your distance — a fed animal usually ends up a dead animal.
10. Know your exit. Nearest hospital, road out, and your coordinates if you need to give them to a dispatcher.

Want this broken into weekly topics? See the June Weekly Content Calendar.

Not into camping? Try outdoor rock climbing / bouldering instead — good conditions before peak summer heat, and no overnight gear needed for a day trip.

Part of the Rec+Safe Theme of the Month calendar.