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Safe Family CampingRonald Porep, Republished from SafetyIssues Issue 8 |
Volume 4 Issue 42May 2005 |
| So you and your family are going camping together. Well, before your load up the car with camping gear, there are some preparations you need to make. | |
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Has your family ever camped before? If not, it is a learned skill like
other sports. You may wish to begin your adventures by taking day trips
that will give you the chance to practice safe camping before you go on an
extended trip. Whether on a day trip or a long excursion, there are some camping safety problems you need to know how to handle. One of the problems you will run into on any excursion into the wild is insect bites – the most common of which is a sting by a bee that seem very aggressive but actually wish to avoid you as much as you wish to avoid the bees. |
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For the honeybee, for example, stinging someone means death due to the
loss of a bee’s stinger. You can avoid being stung by a bee as well as
other seemingly vicious insects such as the hornet, the wasp or the yellow
jacket by following some easy rules.
To avoid attracting bees, try the following: Avoid fragrances, including hair spray, scented soaps, lotions, and
oils. Bees usually approach children with a sweet scent. Avon's
Skin-So-Soft may make bees less apt to explore, and it is safe even on
young children. |
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Don't wear brightly colored clothing, particularly floral patterns, i.e. don't look like a flower patch. Bees also see in the ultraviolet range. If the pattern lights up under black light, it is particularly interesting to bees. If a bee does land, take steps to avoid frightening it: Hold still. Tell kids to pretend they're statues. Rapid movement startles the bee and encourages stinging. If the insect refuses to leave soon then try blowing on it gently to encourage it to leave without startling it. |
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Wear a hat as furry animals steal honey from bees so bees are in a
heightened state of readiness when they are close to hair or fur. Bees
have been proven to have a lower threshold for stinging people with hats.
Wear long pants when you know you are going to be in an area that is
likely to have bees in it, such as a field. And, wear shoes. Bees will of
course be frightened if you step on or near them. Shoes don't make them
less frightened, but they do protect feet from frightened bees. Most of the time, you can avoid being stung. Sometimes, you get stung despite your best efforts. If you are stung, remove the stinger with all haste, in whatever manner is most convenient. If you see a little black dot in the wound, part of the stinger is still present. After you have removed the stinger, apply a solution of one part meat tenderizer to 4 parts water. Papain, the enzyme in meat tenderizer, breaks down the protein in bee venom responsible for the pain and itching. Don't leave this on for more than 30 minutes, or it can irritate the skin. If this is not available, you might try an antiperspirant. Aluminum chlorohydrate reduces the effect of bee venom, but to a lesser extent. Also, apply cold to the sting. Use ice or cool water for 10 to 30 minutes after the sting. This blunts the body's allergic response. And, an antihistamine such as Benadryl, taken by mouth, can give some added relief, and help prevent the reaction from spreading. Stings do not have to be traumatic or fatal if handled correctly though after treatment the person stung should be watched for any adverse reactions and taken to the hospital immediately if such a reaction happens. Although systemic reactions occur in about 3% of children who are stung, and anaphylactic shock can follow as many as 0.8% of bee stings, thankfully only 50 people in the United States are killed by bee stings each year, and only 1 to 2 of these are children. Another hazard of the great outdoors are plants that may cause rashes and allergic reactions. Common plants to be wary of are poison oak, sumac, and ivy. Your best bet is to avoid touching any unknown plants, and dress your children in long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect the skin from exposure to plants that may cause allergic reactions. Any area that comes in contact with a poisonous plant should be washed immediately with soap and water. Hydrocortisone cream (1%) will sometimes successfully stop the rashes and blistering associated with poison ivy. Antihistamines taken by mouth are effective for allergic reactions or rashes ranging from contact with poison ivy to mosquito bites to bee and wasp stings. Some doctors recommend using citronella-based products to repel insects and putting it on clothing instead of skin whenever possible. Repellents containing DEET can also be used. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that products for children contain no more than 10% DEET. DEET-containing products may be used children older than 2 years. If in doubt or your child seems to have a severe reaction to an insect bite or a plant, get help or go to the hospital. And, another hazard is exposure to heat, wind, water, and cold. One of the common mistakes made by camping families is not being ready for seasonal transitions in terms of proper clothing and equipment. Storms blow in and out during all seasons claim the experts. Besides the cold itself, precipitation and wind leads to rapid cooling, especially at nightfall when temperatures drop. So be prepared with extra clothes. Of course, excessive heat can harm your children too. Excessive heat can be a problem for young children, whose sweat glands are not fully developed until adolescence. On hot days, hike in the cooler mornings and evenings. During the day, spend time in shaded areas. When you or your child is exposed to the sun, wear skin protection including hats, sunscreen, and cotton clothes. The best way to protect your family against rapidly changing weather is to wear multi-layered clothing made of polypropylene, wool, and cotton. Layers of clothing such as tank tops, long-sleeved shirts, and sweaters will allow you or your child to reduce or increase clothing as needed. To protect against rain and wind, bring breathable, lightweight waterproof jackets and pants. And, teach your children (and yourself) how to avoid getting lost. how to recognize landmarks at the campsite and on hikes. While hiking, encourage them to turn around and look at the trail to familiarize themselves with their surroundings. Teach children to remain where they are and stay calm if they are lost. Children should wear whistles (whistles can be heard farther away than the human voice) and know the universal help signal of three blows or loud sounds. You may wish to buy the new types of two way radios that allow communication in a range of up to 5 miles. And, before your trip, take a course on map reading and finding directions. For wilderness trekking, always carry a topographical map and compass. And, last avoid the local wildlife just like it wants to avoid you. Teach your children that animals in the wild are strong and agile, and will defend themselves and their young if threatened. Children should not approach wild animals, even small ones, and should never feed them. Don't leave your children unsupervised - small children are vulnerable. Instruct your children to stay calm and call loudly for help if they encounter a wild animal. And, always ask the park rangers about wild animals in your wilderness park. Keep the campsite free of food odors and do not bring food into tents. Pack food in your cars overnight; if you are going on a long camping trip, pack food in resealable plastic bags and animal-resistant containers. These skills will get you through both a short day and overnight camping outing and, once you feel comfortable with the great outdoors, longer excursions into the wild. Just think safety and you and your family should be fine. |
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