Let’s Go Camping
from Shine Newsletter, Summer 2007
Colorado boasts around 50 state parks to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. Make sure your next camping adventure is safe and fun by following a few guidelines.
The Camping Kit that Counts
Whether heading out for a day hike or
overnight camping trip, tote these
essentials in a first-aid kit:
• Alcohol pads and rubbing alcohol
• Bandages
• Broad-brimmed hat
• Large wound dressings
• Oral antihistamine
• Pain-relief medication
• Scissors
• Sterile gauze pads
• Thermometer
• Tweezers
- Pack wisely. Dress your kids in long pants, a broad-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirts to reduce the likelihood of bug bites and sunburn. “Knowing what to bring is important when camping,” said Arleta Rewers , MD , emergency medicine physician at The Children’s Hospital and medical director of Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute. “Be prepared for varying temperatures, and pack protective sunglasses and sunscreen for the whole family.”
- Leaves of three, let it be. Teach your children to avoid plants with leaves of three, which could be poison ivy or oak. You can also try one of the many barrier creams on the market to help prevent exposure to these plants. If you suspect your child has touched poison ivy or oak, immediately wash the area with soap and water (or rubbing alcohol if no water is on hand).
- Keep food out of reach. Never leave food out for animals to find. Place all opened food inside a tight-sealed, animal-resistant container or in your vehicle.
- Don’t drink the water. Stream, river and lake water may contain giardia, or bacteria that cause diarrhea and other complications. If you don’t bring enough bottled water to last the trip, take iodine tablets or a water filter to purify the water before drinking it.
- Pick the perfect place. Consider how your camping area could be affected by adverse weather conditions. If it’s very flat, it may flood; and if lots of large trees surround it, you may be in danger from branches falling during strong winds.
