You can’t appreciate anything if you don’t feel safe, and the continual fear you could feel while out in nature can keep you from having fun. We’ll show you how to keep your camping car secure in this article.
Research where You Can Park
Once you’ve decided on a route, it’s a good idea to look into the local city and state rules regarding car camping and overnight parking. Most states permit overnight parking at rest zones, but only for a limited period of time. In some states, such as Colorado and Tennessee, overnight parking at rest areas is prohibited unless it is for emergency circumstances, and then only with a permit. In most circumstances, businesses and parks will post no overnight parking signs, but in other cases, contacting local authorities to explain the laws is a good way to prevent getting a ticket or a knock on your door late at night. This is one basic piece of advice for new campers among many and it is very important to inform yourself well on this topic. There are also many others that you should think about when being not experienced in car camping.
Do Not Drive at Night
The lack of natural light is the most dangerous aspect of driving at night. Many drivers take sunshine for granted, oblivious to the fact that it has a significant impact on their sight. We forget how dark the night is because of electric lighting. When a driver realizes they can only see a few hundred feet in front of their vehicle, they may be taken aback. At night, vehicles rely nearly entirely on their headlights for navigation. Most low-beam headlights, on the other hand, have a maximum illumination distance of 200 feet. Most drivers would not be able to spot a human or an animal crossing the road until it was too late.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 37% of Americans have fallen asleep behind the wheel. This is more likely to occur when drivers get behind the wheel at times when they should be sleeping, such as at night. Even if you aren’t exhausted enough to fall asleep behind the wheel, you could still have an accident because exhaustion has blunted your reflexes or you are too fatigued to pay attention to the road correctly.
Think About the Food
Make sure you have sufficient drinking and washing water with you. Because most parks are not connected to the public water supply, you cannot rely on water from the park’s rainwater tanks, especially during dry periods. Keep in mind that tank water hasn’t been treated and isn’t safe to drink. If you’re bringing food that needs to be kept cold, get a good esky and bring plenty of ice. Camping and food poisoning do not mix well. Take into account how you’ll store your food. Bugs won’t be able to climb in unless the containers are airtight. You don’t want anything additional in your corn flakes in the morning.
First Aid
If you’re seeking a comprehensive camping first aid checklist, there are many things to consider. You may make your own wilderness first aid kit out of a few items or get a basic first aid kit from your local pharmacy and customize it with a few items appropriate to your camping trip. Naturally, if you or your family have anything that you need to bring with you, that would be ideal.
The following are the items you must include to make your first aid kit useful wherever you go:
- adhesive bandages of various sizes
- butterfly bandages gauze pads of various sizes
- antiseptic creams and ointments
- sterile wipes and rinse solutions
- pain and anti-inflammatory medicine
- hydrocortisone cream
- tweezers, scissors, safety pins, and a knife
- sunburn relief spray
- anti-diarrhea medicine
- antihistamine for allergic reactions
- eye drops
- triple antibiotic ointment moleskin hand sanitizer
Using Insect Protection
Use insect repellent that doesn’t dissolve easily in water to keep mosquitos, ticks, and other insects at bay. Make sure you check for ticks on a daily basis, especially in places you might not expect. When trekking, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants are also recommended to avoid direct contact with insects. Place your clothes in the laundry for at least 10 minutes on high heat after a hike or any other outside activity to kill any ticks that may have made their way home on your clothing.
When entering an unfamiliar area, it is critical to understand what you should and can do in the event that something unpleasant occurs. Thankfully, many people are willing to help those in need, so don’t be afraid to ask someone more knowledgeable.