Family camping tips: Along with the tent, pack a first-aid kit and a safety mindset

Along with beautiful vistas, sunsets, and chats by the fire, there may be a few other things some of us will associate with camping, particularly if there are kids in the picture: cuts, scrapes, burns, and sprains.

There’s no reason to panic, says Dr. David Pomeroy, a family practice physician and clinic chief of the UW Physicians Issaquah Clinic. “The Boy Scouts’ motto still holds true,” he says. “Be prepared.”

The first priority when you are taking your family camping is to have a safety mindset, Pomeroy says. The essential items that should be taken along on any camping trip are extra food, extra clothing, matches, a flashlight, compass, map, fire starter, knife, first-aid kit, a safety whistle and sunglasses.

Also, talk about safety and set the rules before you get there. Basic safety rules children should know are to tell a parent anytime they go anywhere, stay in sight of a parent if hiking, and stay on the trails.

“Be sure everyone, even mom and dad, is up to date on tetanus immunizations,” Pomeroy cautions.

The first-aid kit should fit the situation. Taking a 10-year-old with you for a night in the mountains calls for a different kit than if you are going on car trip to a nearby park, he says. “Parents need to consider where they are going and think about what might happen,” he says.

Every kit should include at least the following: Band-Aids, gauze bandages, an artificial ice pack, splinter tweezers, water purification tablets, antibiotic ointment, a blister kit, over-the-counter pain medication, a thermometer and antibacterial soap. “Consider getting a ready-made kit in a distinctive case so everyone knows what it is and can find it easily,” Pomeroy says.

Taking a water filter in case you need to purify water from a stream or a pond is also a good idea, he says. A main risk in many natural water resources is a parasite called giardia, which gets into ponds and streams via animal waste contamination.

“In the Northwest, for example, one should assume that water is contaminated with giardia,” Pomeroy says. The parasite lodges in a person’s intestine, causing diarrhea, cramping and discomfort. It is easily treated, but easily avoided as well, Pomeroy says.

Importantly, avoid antibiotic ointments with the ingredient neomycin because it can sensitize the skin and make a burn or a rash more irritated.

Burns break down the skin’s ability to fight infections. When a burn occurs, run cold water on it, wash it, apply the ointment, and then cover it. For minor burns that have not blistered, try applying vinegar, or, when lacking that, pickle juice. The vinegar has the surprising effect of taking away the sting, Pomeroy added.

Strep bacteria live on the skin and can often infect burns, causing major problems within a day or two. If redness spreads and an area gets more painful after two or three days, the burn may be infected. See a doctor, Pomeroy says.

To treat a sprain, another common camping injury, remember the acronym RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation above the heart.

Ultimately, people should stick to the basics: follow proper hygiene, be prepared, and have a safety mindset. And don’t forget to take one more thing, Pomeroy says. “Plenty of smiles.” ¶

Will Morton