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Camping Health and Safety

Ladder to the stars

Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars.

– Ellen Ochoa

Campfire safety. Campfires are a vital part of the camping experience. There is nothing quite like sitting around a fire chatting with friends and family, singing songs and toasting marshmallows after a day’s camping activities. This 5 minute read will give you the tools to enjoy a campfire responsibly- for the safety of both the people in your group, the other campers on the site and the environment. The first thing to remember… Be sure to check that your campsite allows fires before you leave! Lots of campsites actually don’t permit people to have fires and you don’t want the disappointment of finding this out when you arrive. You could also check whether the campsite has fire pits, which make setting up a safe fire a lot easier. Lots will only allow you to have fires in fire pits to protect their site. Many will sell firewood in the campsite, but if they don’t, a nearby garage is usually your best bet. Setting up your fire Where you're lighting your fire or your campsite doesn’t have a firepit, then you can make your own. Set up the fire on bare earth, within a circle of stones, at least 10 feet away from any tents or bushes. If you’re camping in a forest you also want to make sure there aren’t any low lying branches immediately above the spot you’re making the fire. If there aren’t any rocks available, then you could also contain the fire within greenwood that you wet down regularly. Burn baby burn… Now that you have a good firepit, it’s time to actually make the fire. If you'd like a step-by-step guide go to How to light a campfire. When you’re getting wood for your fire, make sure not to cut any down from forests, unless you have permission from the landowner that you’re allowed to do so. Not only can this damage wildlife habitats, but green wood is also not ideal for making fires as it doesn’t burn well. It will get very smokey and not much fun. Lighting the fire safely If you’re using a match to light the fire, make sure you throw it into the fire once it has caught light, or put it into a container of water to make sure it goes out. When you’re camping in summer or autumn, there’s lots of dry grass around that can easily set light. You should also never use lighter fluid, gas or any flammable liquids to start your fire. To stop escaping flames Be sure to always keep a bucket of water near in case the fire suddenly needs to be put out, as well as a shovel that be used to throw sand or dirt onto escaping flames. You also want to pay attention to the wind, as a strong gust can cause sparks to fly or even for the fire to spread. On blowy days, keep anything flammable and any unused firewood upwind and at least 4 meters away from the fire. Keep an eye on kids and pets Kids love toasting marshmallows and whittling sticks whilst sitting around the campfire. But another important part of camping is teaching children how to be safe around the fire. You could make the fire with your kids, showing them how it can be done safely, and then teach them how to maintain it responsibly. Teach them to stop, drop and roll if they ever find themselves in a situation when their clothes set on fire. In some countries such as Australia and USA, they teach the stop, drop, roll as part of the school curriculum. Its a good idea to practice this with young children as make it part of their learning to camp rules. If they ever needed to do this, they wouldn't panic and just carry out these 3 steps more naturally. If you’re camping with pets that you know can be jumpy or unpredictable then be sure to keep them on your lap or by your side around the campfire. You could also keep them on a short leash. Set rules that work for your family and the ages of children you have. When we were younger, we had a rule that sticks poked in the fire had to stay below knee height to avoid red hot pokers being waved in the air around faces and eyes. We also had a rule of no running around the fire, so children and adults moving around the campfire had to do it outside of the ring of chairs to avoid anyone tripping too close to the fire. Make sure all the children and adults in your party know the fire rules, especially if they haven’t camped with fires before. Don’t leave the campfire alone! Make sure to never leave a campfire unattended, as a breeze can cause it to spread very quickly. Even if you’re heading off for a short trip, make sure anyone left at the camp knows to keep an eye on the fire. Or, if no one will be around then properly extinguish the fire- it can easily be relit when you return. Putting out campfires To put the fire out properly, dump water on it, then stir the ashes around to expose any embers that are still burning and finally dump more water on the fire. A good rule of thumb is that if it is too hot to touch then the fire shouldn’t be left alone.

Campfire safety

Campfires are a vital part of the camping experience and so is being safe. This 5 minute read will give you the tools to practice campfire safety skills. There is
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How to make your camp safe. Although camping is great fun, it’s not without its dangers. Seeing as you’re spending so much time outdoors, and living in close quarters with flammable gases, fire and appliances it’s good to know how to use your camping equipment safely and keep a few things in mind to keep everyone in your camping group safe and happy. Checking for dangers Before it gets dark on your first night, make sure to check the surrounding area for any dangers, such as nearby rivers or cliff faces. This is firstly to orient yourself, and get a better sense of the nearby area, as well as to prevent any kids from running off and getting themselves into a dangerous situation. Check here for loads more tips on When camping after dark - How to light up your pitch. Fire safety Make sure your fire is contained. You could use a man-made firepit, which lots of campsites provide for you. You could even phone them up beforehand- checking that they allow fires and whether they have a firepit for each pitch. But if they don’t, then you can make your own fire on bare earth in a circle of stones. Set it up 4 meters away from any bushes or tents, and also make sure there aren’t any low-lying branches that could catch alight. If you use a match to start the fire, throw it into a bucket of cold water, or back into the lit fire. Remember to never use any flammable fluids or gases to start your fire. Also keep a bucket of water and a spade near so that you can throw water or shovel dirt onto the fire if it starts to spread. Never leave a fire unattended, any gust of wind could make sparks fly, and potentially make the fire spread if no one is there to put them out. Instead, if you’re going to bed or going away from your pitch, pour water on the fire then stir the coals to get any hot embers to the surface, and pour water on them again. For loads more advice on how to stay safe around the fire, especially when camping with children, check out my general guide to Campfire safety. Keep the camp area well lit Having lots of lights in your pitch is an especially great idea if you’re camping with kids or dogs. It means that at night-time you can keep track of everyone a lot more easily, especially kids or dogs who could run off or get lost. It also prevents you losing any of your belongings- camping cutlery always seems especially easy to misplace when its dark. A well-lit pitch also means people are less likely to trip over objects on the floor and guy ropes. But if you want to reduce the chances of people tripping up even more then why not twist fairy lights along the guy ropes, making them even harder to miss. There's lots fun in The Magic of Camping After Dark. It is also a great way to make your pitch look beautiful- if you want loads more tips on how to glam up your pitch, have a look at Camping Romance - Accessorise Darling. Carbon monoxide risks Seeing as you’re using lots of fuel burning appliances camping, carbon monoxide can prove a very significant risk. It can lead to headaches, dizziness and can even be fatal. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning make sure to NEVER use barbecues, fuel burning appliances and heaters in an enclosed space, such as a tent or awning. This is because these appliances release carbon monoxide, which can build up when used inside. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, sickness, tiredness, confusion, shortness of breath and vertigo. So, if you or anyone in your campsite has these symptoms, take everyone outside into fresh air and away from any appliances. Also, investigate the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak, getting a qualified expert to check your camping equipment. Extreme winds When you’re camping, especially by the coast or in areas known for more extreme weather conditions be sure to keep up to date with the weather forecast. Remember that it can change last minute, also make sure that you will be notified if there are any local weather warnings. In the case of strong winds, orient your tent so the narrow end is facing the wind, make sure everything is secured down so none of your belongings can be blown away, and set up all your guy ropes properly to make your tent as secure as possible. If it isn’t raining, then you could leave out the fly when putting up the tent, so the wind has less to blow into, and even open the tent up near the top to allow air to flow through. Also be sure to bring a tent repair kit just in case it gets damaged at all. If there is a thunderstorm, then find a house or permanent structure to shelter in- you could even stay in a hotel for the night. If none of this is possible, then a car will do- but don’t try and ride it out in your tent as this won’t be a safe enough place to shelter if a thunderstorm does hit. The other end of the spectrum If you’re camping in extreme heat, then be sure to top up your water bottles regularly, making sure everyone stays hydrated as it is easy to lose vital liquids when you’re sweating in the heat. Set up your tent in an area that is in the shade for as much of the day as possible or use an awning to make a shady area. Also make sure your tent has great ventilation to reduce the chance of a humid night in the tent. Camp near water so that you can take refreshing swims whenever the heat gets too much. Also pack a hammock, which is a much cooler alternative to the sleeping bag if you are able to sleep outside. Tick protection Ticks are not everywhere, but if you think you'll be camping somewhere they may be prevalent, then make sure to spray everyone with bug spray at the beginning of the day and before sitting around the campfire in the evening. This includes the dog- bring along some canine tick protection as well! Wearing shoes that cover the feet, long sleeved t-shirts and trousers is also a great way to prevent tick bites. Remember that ticks are often found in long grasses, or areas that livestock have grazed, so check family members and dogs for ticks after spending time in these areas. In your first aid kit I would recommend bringing tick removal tweezers just in case anyone does get a bite. Check out my general guide to What to pack in a camping first aid kit.

How to make your camp safe

Although camping is great fun, it’s not without its dangers. In this article we'll help you with tips on how to make your camp safe. Seeing as you’re spending so
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Fox Wood Campsite,
Selden lane, Patching
BN13 3UL

Phone: 07983 151 780

FoxWoodCamping@gmail.com

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