With only one week left in May, camping season is already in full swing for many outdoor enthusiasts. While camping can be incredibly rewarding experience for the entire family, the medical officer of health and CEO of the Eastern Ontario Heath Unit says parents should still take steps to stay safe while out in nature. Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, A.K.A. Dr. Paul, joined CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa on Wednesday to offer some camping safety advice. Be prepared Dr. Paul says camping safety often comes down to one thing: preparation. “Just understand where you’re going and be as prepared as possible. The better prepared you are, the better it will be,” he said. Dr. Paul says parents should consider the risks associated with the trip before heading out. For instance, if there are ticks or other insects that could cause harm to you or your children in the area you’re camping, consider what you could bring along to mitigate the potential harm. Part of this preparation should always include packing a proper first aid kit. “Having, bandages, sunscreen, insecticide, biotic cream, and those types of things, that’s very important,” he said. “You need your utensils for camping, but these are very important things to ensure that you and your family have a healthy and safe but fun time.” Pitching tents Dr. Paul says choosing the right spot to set up camp is “really important” for camping safety. “You might be there for a couple of days, and you want to be safe,” Dr. Paul said. As he explains, avoid pitching your tent in potentially hazardous areas, whether that’s on or near an incline, or close to a body of water. “When you’re on site, you’re looking around, you don’t want to go on a hill because kids can roll down, and you don’t want to go close to a water, to a lake, or anything like that,” he said. “Be very mindful of where you’re setting up your tent.” Fire safety While bonfires are essential to nearly every camping experience, Dr. Paul says it’s important that families take precautions around open flames. “The young children, make sure you keep away from the fire,” he said. Dr. Paul says campers should heed fire safety warnings and comply with fire bans. He also says campers should ensure their fire is fully extinguished before going to bed for the evening. “Make sure that you put out the fire before you go to bed. Don’t let it sort of die on its own, you never know, wind might come, or anything like that,” he said.
