Some Tips for a Safe Camping Trip
At one time or another, most of us have done things that were not too smart. Whether it’s goofing off, being reckless, or just not paying attention, the likelihood of an accident increases during times of poor judgment. This applies to camping as well, so the first rule of camping safety is: don’t do anything stupid. Most camping accidents can be avoided with a little common sense. Two common hazards that can be easily avoided are lightning and unsafe climbing.
The Danger of Lightning Strikes
More than any other weather related phenomenon, lightning strikes kill over a hundred people each year. Many of these lightning fatalities occur in wilderness areas.
Even though lightning mostly occurs within clouds, it is still possible to be struck by a cloud-to-ground strike. The higher your elevation with relation to objects around you, like when standing on a hill or in an open field, the higher the odds are of being struck by lightning.
The human body, which contains a large amount of salty fluid, provides a natural conductive path for a lightning strike. The danger increases further if you become soaked with rain which often goes hand in hand with a lightning storm.
Unfortunately, you can still get seriously injured from a lightning strike even if you are not the most conductive or highest thing around. Even if you avoid being the highest point around and prevent yourself from getting wet, which certainly helps, you odds of being struck are still far from zero if you’re in a lightning storm.
The electric current (the amount of flowing electrons) from a lightning strike is the primary killer. It only takes a modest amount of voltage to cause a deadly electric current to pass thru you. The enormous voltage of a lightning strike means that it contains extremely high currents. If you have ever seen a tree that has been hit by lightning, you can begin to understand just how much energy is contained in a lightning strike.
Since lightning carries enormous voltages, you do not have to be directly struck by lightning in order to be injured. Just being near a lightning strike can knock you down or disturb physiological processes, such as injuring your eyesight, breaking an eardrum or singeing your skin.
If you notice the beginnings of a thunder storm heading your way, there are several things you can do decrease your chances of being hit by lightning.
- Find shelter in a building with a floor, plumbing and electrical wiring. Any lightning strike will be directed around you.
- Take shelter in a car or truck with the windows rolled up.
- If you are in an open area outdoors, look for the lowest lying area you can find and crouch down.
- Do not seek shelter under a tree or in any structure that is not properly protected. This will only make you part of a higher object.
- If you are swimming in a lake or river, get out of the water immediately.
Avoidable Climbing Risks
Taking unnecessary risks while climbing or hiking is another way that many unfortunate accidents occur.
Due to sudden gusts of wind, which can be common in camping areas, standing to close to cliffs is a definite no-no. If the ground near the edge of a cliff is loose, it can be very easy for someone to loose their balance and fall. It is best to remain at least a couple feet from the edge. To move any closer is just asking for trouble.
Climbing up a steep hill, embankment or cliff can be just as dangerous. Loose rocks can fall on a partner behind you or cause you to slip and fall yourself. Do not trust any trees growing out of a mountainside because they may only be held in place by fragile roots. Using them as a hand hold could pull them loose unexpectedly. It may be bad for the tree, but it will be even worse for you.
Minor cuts and scrapes are not normally a problem, but they can turn deadly outdoors, so a fall from a small distance can still be dangerous. Worse yet, a broken bone with no medical facilities near by would be very serious.
A rule to live by is to know your limits and not to exceed them. Taking risks is a part of life and can make for a great adventure, but foolishly taking risks can increase you chances of an unpleasant result.