Safety Tips for Night Camping
Camping is an inexpensive and unique option for loners and families with young children. It is an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without going too far from home, especially when you sign up for Pawna Lake Camping.
However, when planning and packing for your night camping near Mumbai, safety should be your top priority. As thrilling as it sounds, night camping can be dangerous, especially if you do not put proper safety precautions in place.
But it doesn’t have to be; night camping can be fulfilling, revitalizing, and fun. According to a report released in 2017, camping attracted over 40 million people from around the world. That's to tell you that many people love connecting with nature from time to time.
But you need to take the tips that will be outlined in this article into account to ensure your overnight stay is a safe one.
Tips for Night Camping
Therefore, as you prepare for Pawna Lake camping, put these tips at the top of your mind when you go for night camping :
Put Food Away Properly
Food attracts wildlife; yes, everything from insects or bugs to raccoons, squirrels, mongoose, and even bears. And make no mistake about it; bears can be pretty scary. You don’t want these critters spoiling the fun of night camping or even coming near your campsite in any way.
And this is why you should make sure that you stow your food away from where the aroma has no chance of escaping. Get a few bear-resistant food lockers or containers that are specially delegated for camp food storage.
These food lockers are designed in such a way that bears cannot smell their contents, thanks to the exceptional insulation the lockers are built with. You should also consider storing the containers at least 100 feet away from your campsite to be on the safe side because bears can smell food from far away.
Most camping areas – like Pawna Lake camping spots – have places that are designated for eating. So, you should consider sticking to those places as much as possible.
Take a walk around the boundaries of your campsite to weigh in the risks of camping at that particular spot. If you notice a considerable amount of wear on barks and low-hanging branches, it is an indication that bears have enjoyed some playtime by rubbing against the wood at that location.
And look around to be sure that your camping spot is not anywhere near berry patches as these are tasty snacks for bears and other critters.
Never Get Caught in a Lightning Storm
It is not always easy to predict nature, and despite weather reports, nature can go haywire at any time.
Therefore, if you happen to get caught in a lightning storm or hear the sound of thunder, it merely implies that you are within 10 miles of a storm. And you should do your best to seek refuge or shelter as soon as possible.
Most tents used at Pawna Lake camping ground often use aluminum poles in order to make them as lightweight as possible. What you may not bear in mind is that these aluminum poles can be a considerable risk when it comes to getting caught in a lightning storm.
Therefore, the best way to prevent accidents in a lightning storm is to leave your sleeping bag inside the tent and get into your car. The body of your automobile may be made of metal, but your tires will easily ground the electricity if you happen to get hit by a lightning strike.
And if you are swimming and hear the sound of thunder, please get out of the water immediately because water is an excellent conductor of electricity.
Camp in Designated Areas
Another way to ensure that you remain safe whenever you go for night camping near Pune is by setting up camp in designated areas. Pawna Lake camping is a place that people from all over the world visit whenever they want to escape the noise, hustles, and bustles of city life.
And the campground has several designated places that campers can stay during the week or weekends.
Therefore, do not go off the beaten track because if you do, you may end up in a very dangerous area that is frequented by wildlife. You may also be susceptible to valleys prone to flash flooding, locations near animal homes, or even areas that are very unsafe for other geographical reasons.
Cleanliness
You should make sure your campsite is always clean. Never leave any leftovers in the open because the smell of food can attract critters like bears and others towards your location.
If there are food remnants, you should consider handing them between two trees at least ten feet above the ground. But before you hang the food, make sure it is adequately sealed.
Most campgrounds like the Pawna Lake camping ground have bear-resistant dumpsters such that bears and the likes find it much harder to open. The chances of bears getting close to the campgrounds in search of food are, therefore, very slim.
Never sleep in the same clothes that you used while you were cooking. This is because the whiff of the cooked food is likely to stay with you long after you are done cooking. So, have a change of clothing as soon as you are done with cooking and secure the soiled clothes in an air-tight bag.
Always clean your campsite to prevent encroachment by raccoons, bears, and other animals.
Be Wary of Insects
Protecting yourself from insects is also essential because you are out there in the wild. As such, you will be exposed to insects such as bees, mosquitoes, wasps, and ticks. This exposure may put you at risk of getting infected with Lyme disease, malaria or getting stung by wasps and bees.
The following are some of the safety tips to keep in mind when it comes to warding off insects:
Always wear long-sleeved clothing along with thick boots at night in order to avoid insects
Avoid using strongly-scented perfumes that can easily catch the attention of and attract insects and even bigger animals
Avoid wearing brightly-colored clothing
If a wasp or bee is flying near your head, please stay still as any sudden movement will be misconstrued by the insects as an act of aggression, thus prompting them to attack to defend themselves
If you are allergic to bees, ensure your Epipen is always close by
Of course, you can also use insect repellent to also assist in protecting you from insects at night.
Be Wary of Snakes
Snakes, in most cases, are not interested in humans, unless of course they are threatened by one. Nevertheless, their lack of interest in humans is not an indication that you should not be wary of them as you go camping near Mumbai.
Snakes usually love to hide in dark crevices between logs and rocks. So, as an additional precaution, make sure you wear thick gloves when gathering firewood and rocks for the campfire. You should also wear boots that cover up to your ankles if you need to move around at night.
Always Keep Lanterns and Flashlights (plus extra batteries) at Hand
Venturing out in the darkness is possibly the last thing you would do if you wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom or investigate a loud, unnatural noise.
You can avoid this by keeping lanterns and flashlights on hand along with extra batteries. Of course, you need to make sure you pack these along with you when preparing for a Night Camping.
Bear in mind that camping can be very unpredictable, and that is why you need backups in the form of fresh batteries. Store them in an Adventure Lion waterproof bag to keep them from getting wet.
Be Sure That Your Tent is Fire-safe
On chilly nights, it can be incredibly tempting to bring a lantern or heater into your tent for warmth. But this can be dangerous, especially if your tent is not fire-proof.
This is why you should never bring anything that may cause your portable shelter to catch fire. Indeed, most tents nowadays are made of flame-retardant materials, but if enough heat is applied, they can still catch fire.
Eat the Right Camp Foods
Foods can regulate the temperature of your body. This is why you should consider taking foods rich in healthy fat and protein along with snacks, especially during colder camping nights
High-calories foods provide the human body with the energy it requires to generate heat on a cold night.
Never Leave Your Fire Burning
Night Camping can be exciting and soothing at the same time, especially when you spend time around a campfire singing songs or sharing drinks.
But irrespective of the temperature, you should never leave that campfire burning at night. Up to 84 percent of wildfires are generated by human activity which ranges from campfires to arson and burning of debris.
This implies that campfires require careful handling in order to prevent the occurrence of wildfires. Therefore, when the last person in your group is ready to turn in, get a bucket of sand or water to put out the embers completely.
Or else, the embers could spark up in the middle of the night because a small breeze has the power to rekindle the fire when everyone is deeply asleep and potentially cause untold injury to both people and animals that may be out within this area.
Be sure that you don't build a fire under a tree with low-hanging branches. This is because if the fire gets bigger than you may have anticipated, there's a high likelihood that the branches will become flamed quickly.
Always Be Respectful of Wildlife
You should always be respectful of wildlife, and this includes not aggravating any animal, no matter how tame they look.
Before you pitch your tent, make sure to move around the campground for any visible signs that may indicate that you are intruding on an animal’s home or territory before it gets dark. You should look for snake holes, marked territories with urine, or animal droppings.
Use the Right Sleeping Bag
You also need to make sure that you use the right sleeping bag designed for the right season since you will likely be sleeping in a tent.
Therefore, check the temperature rating on the back to determine whether or not the bag is best for hot or cold weather.
While on the subject of sleeping bags, make sure your sleeping bag is positioned on a flat surface. If you sleep with your head facing downhill, your blood may rush to your head, thereby making you lose consciousness. This can be a pretty dicey situation, especially if you are camping alone at night.
Do Not Get Lost
Do not go for night camping near Pune without a GPS or compass unit at all times. This can come in very handing if you happen to wander away from the campground and have no way of getting back to your campsite.
Maintain Good Hygiene
Proper hygiene when night camping near Mumbai is a must if you want to maintain your overall health. So, make sure you make use of hand sanitizers before you eat; brush your teeth with purified water or baking soda.
If you can bathe, ensure you make use of biodegradable soap and sponge. All these practices will help in preventing you from falling sick and requiring medical assistance in the middle of the night.
Always Have a Survival Kit Close at Hand
You will need a few essential tools to keep you safe in case a worst-case scenario occurs. Therefore, make sure you take the following along with you when going for night camping near Mumbai:
Water purifying tablets
Waterproof matches
A sharp knife
First aid kit, etc.
As you can see, these safety tips for night camping near Pune can go a long way in protecting you from dangers or hazards that may occur.
Follow these tips to the letter so that you can maximize the fun and thrill of Pawna Lake camping under the open heavens.