Being away from home on a camping trip means you’re making do without a lot of things, such as electricity and sometimes comfort. One thing you should never be without is the awareness that accidents do happen and the first aid skills to know how to deal with injuries. What’s more, campers should always go out of their way to reduce every possible threat that could spell disaster and be conscious of potential hazards within their very campsite.

To increase your camping safety and keep your grounds as accident-free as possible, begin by walking the area and looking for hazards such as broken glass, sticks jammed into the ground at dangerous angles, slippery spots to avoid or rocky areas that could be dangerous in a fall. If there is deadfall on the ground, remove as much as possible and clear the area. Accidents such as being jabbed by a branch during a fall could be avoided by a little prevention. During your stay, always try to keep safety in the forefront by making sure you’re handling your equipment carefully and clearly marking ropes that can be a trip hazard with colored fly tape. Another good way of ensuring safety around your campsite is putting things away once you’re done using them. A cluttered camping area has plenty of potential for small accidents that can cause a lot of grief.

If you’re planning on building campfires for warmth, enjoyment or cooking, be smart, wary and safe. Find out if there are any restrictions for the time of year or dryness in the region - many areas don’t permit fires when there has been a recent dry spell and the spread of fires is a concern. Avoid building fires on a windy day, as the breeze can transport smouldering ashes and start them burning elsewhere. If you know it’s safe to build a fire and it’s not a windy day, do make sure you have a proper fire pit dug out and ringed with stones. Containing and controlling your flame is extremely important. Always have a bucket of water handy, as fires can get out of control very quickly - and you’ll need to extinguish your fire properly before turning in. Letting a fire die down unsupervised is asking for trouble.