Camping safety Published May 19, 2009 By Ron Burrell 21st Space Wing Safety Office PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Summer is a great time to take some much-deserved time off and head to the mountains, the lake or wherever you and your family like to go and get away, relax and spend some time together. One such outing that comes to mind is a family hiking or camping trip. A family camping trip can be an enjoyable experience with a little preparation. Knowing your limits, taking the time to plan ahead, and packing the right items will help your adventure go off without a hitch. Here are a few risk management considerations to consider that are associated with hiking: · Weather (thunderstorms, lightning, rain and wind) · Location (near water, forest, mountains) · Wildlife (bugs, poisonous plants, snakes and bears) · Fire (campfires, cooking) · Many others, situation-dependent hazards Assess the risk: Then assess the impact of each hazard in terms of potential loss and severity: · Injuries, death, loss of equipment, and damage due to severe weather · Incidents involving water (drowning and hypothermia), falls, becoming lost · Animal bites, insect-borne diseases, skin irritations and bothersome pests · Burns, out-of-control fires, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning Analyze risk control measures: Once you have identified the hazards and assessed the associated risk, you should decide on some controls that can be employed to reduce or mitigate the hazards: · Check the weather and be prepared for severe conditions. Plan for cover in case of inclement weather and always carry rainwear and fire-starting material for warmth. · Have a quality topographical map of the area you will be hiking or camping in. Consider taking a compass, a Global Positioning System or a personal locator beacon. Also, ensure you know how to use whatever device you take. Take a water filter to ensure that you have clean filtered water to drink. · Have, at least some, climbing ropes in case you find yourself needing extra support because of a precarious situation while in the mountains. Take a course that covers the risks you will encounter. You can find courses on everything from packing a backpack to predicting avalanches. Tell your Wingman: · Where you are going · When you will get there · When you expect to return · What kind of equipment you have on hand (If you become lost, knowing the color of your tent would be helpful to rescuers) Other supplies and tips include: · Take extra food in case you become lost or stranded · Use insect repellent. Become familiar with the types of local poisonous snakes and plants that you may encounter and what you should do if exposed to them. Talk to medical personnel. Learn how to treat snakebites and bee stings/mosquito bites if they become a problem. Visit fish and wildlife experts to learn about bear safety. If you use anti-bear devices, make sure you know how to use them. · Keep food in sealed containers and out of your tents · Remember that bug spray, suntan lotion, and other nonfood items may smell like food to a bear · Hang food from a tree, out of a bear's reach, if possible · Keep fires contained to a well-constructed fire pit. Keep water on hand when any flame is present. Keep plenty of clear space around fires and lanterns to ensure that they do not contact combustibles. Be very cautious around fuels and never allow anyone to play or put anything but wood and paper in the fire. Never take a fuel burning device inside a tent as you could be overcome by carbon monoxide gas. · Make sure children don't wander off into the water, woods or mountains without adult supervision Make control decisions: Accept the risk, avoid the risk, reduce the risk, or spread the risk. Do not make dumb decisions. Risk control implementation: Once you select appropriate controls, use them! A plan is only good if it is followed. Supervise and review: As always, the situation is subject to change quickly. Monitor the situation and adjust as necessary to keep things under control. Summer is a great time to have fun and we all deserve a break every now and then. From now on, use risk management to make your summer fun, memorable and safe. No one wants a summer outing to turn into a tragedy. If everyone gives some thought to personal risk management in their summer activities, they can avoid becoming injury statistics. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.