You’ve tied down the bicycles with cam straps to the roof of your car, you have packed mosquito repellent, and you’ve brought along some detailed maps. If this sounds like a pre-camping ritual to you, then you are evidently a camper with safety and security on the brain. Camping security is essential, and it is essential because camping, by its very nature, is an escape from the modern world. The rejuvenating effect of this is why it is so popular. However, do not forget that escaping the modern world can also mean escaping the security of the modern world.
Of course, this is not to say that officially licensed campsites or other kinds of manmade camping infrastructure or products are not safe (far from it) but simply that most camping experiences will involve some degree of “off-grid” experience. You can hardly expect them to put a fence over every cliff edge or build a tarmacked road through the valleys.
You and Your Stuff
Rollercam, a company specializing in tie-down straps for camping and outdoor sports purposes, say that it isn’t just yourself that you will be protecting when you begin to consider camping security, but your stuff too. Camping security is a two-pronged approach. The most important thing will always be related to personal safety but also important is how secure your camping equipment is from potential damage and even theft.
The fact that theft plays a role might surprise many who do not normally think of campsites as the location of high-value heists. Nevertheless, this is absolutely the case and a bike left insecurely tied down or a caravan with the door open at night is a sure way to attract those thieves looking to sell on valuable camping equipment.
Nevertheless, as well as thieves, there is also the simple protection of your camping gear and equipment from damage. Just as a poorly tied down bike is liable to be stolen, it is also liable to fall from the vehicle when you are driving! This is yet another aspect of camping safety that needs to be considered.
Useful Camping Safety Tips
Not every place where you could go camping will present the same kinds or same levels of risk. Accordingly, any safety tips need to be somewhat general. Nonetheless, if you want to protect yourself from harm, and your stuff from either being stolen or damaged, here are some top tips:
Learn About the Area
It is very important to actually know a bit about the area you are visiting in order to plan for an emergency response if it might prove necessary. The most important things to know are the natural dangers present as well as where the nearest town and hospital is.
Store Your Food Safely
In practice, this means a sealed waterproof container placed at the edge of your campsite (and not in the tent). This protects against two things: your food being spoiled, lost, or stolen, and open food attracting wild animals to your campsite (or tent!).
Take Care of Valuables
When you go camping, it is likely you will be parking your car in one place and setting up your tent somewhere quite far from it. In such cases, be sure that there are not any valuables or easily stolen items left in the car as you disappear off into the woods.
At the end of the day, camping will never be quite as safe as staying at home with the doors locked. However, it could be considerably less safe if you don’t anticipate the problems and make the necessary preparations.
