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First Aid Kits, Camping, Planning a trip, Selecting and conserving Campsites and Physical conditioning

             Camping, activity in which people live temporarily in the outdoors. History is filled with examples of soldiers camping out, as at Valley Forge during the American Revolution (1775-1783), and of nomadic peoples throughout the world who move their campsites from place to place. But today camping is primarily a recreational activity.
 

        Camping provides an opportunity to experience nature firsthand. Campers participate in fishing, hunting, swimming, plant study, bird and wildlife watching, and nature photography. Just as importantly, camping helps people escape the stress of city life. It provides physical benefits when it involves hiking to, from, and around a campsite, and many outdoor enthusiasts believe that camping instills confidence in youngsters and offers older campers opportunities to challenge themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. Recent improvements in camping gear and a growing number of organizations that teach people wilderness safety have made it easier to spend several days or even weeks in the outdoors.

 Backpacking

        People throughout the world enjoy hiking to wilderness campsites, usually on established trails. This activity is called backpacking because it involves carrying such essential camping gear as a tent, food, clothing, and sleeping bag on the back in a bag called a backpack. Backpacking is best suited for those who are in good physical condition as it may require walking several miles. Moreover it is sometimes necessary to climb steep paths on mountainsides, cross small streams, and spend long days on the trail to reach a secluded, quiet, and solitary campsite. The reward for this effort can be a serene mountain lake, beautiful views of the surrounding wilderness, and wildlife seen along the way.

    Selecting and Conserving a Campsite

        Several simple guidelines for selecting a campsite promote safety and help minimize impact on the backcountry.

Camp off the trail to stay out of the way of other campers, and camp away from water sources to avoid polluting them with wastewater or trash.

Pitch the tent in a flat spot free of rocks, roots, and spiky plants. Forest duff, a mat of decaying leaves and branches, is the most comfortable groundcover to sleep on, followed by sand, then gravel. Avoid damp, vegetated areas, and do not crush existing plants. (Many backcountry plant species take three to four years to recuperate from a camper’s carelessness.) Where there is an obvious tent site that others have used, pitch the tent there to minimize the impact of a stay.

Check for hazards. Cast a glance upward for dead branches before setting up the tent, as they can sometimes break off during high winds. In mountainous areas, avoid avalanche and rock chutes (identified by rock piles at the base of a slope). Burrowing into trees and rocks protects a camper from wind. Pitching the tent with its back to the wind creates a calm area at the tent’s door, where campers enter and exit. It also takes advantage of the tent’s structure, as the back wall is made of a single piece of fabric and can best absorb gusts of wind.

Hang food, soaps, clothes worn while preparing food, and other fragrant items in a bag from a tree limb at least 3 m (10 ft) off the ground. This precaution keeps raccoons, bears, and other animals with excellent senses of smell out of a camper’s food and away from the campsite during the night.

Planning a Camping Trip

    The key to any enjoyable camping trip is planning. A decision on where to camp hinges on personal preference, but planning the trip before leaving helps campers avoid preventable mishaps and gives them options should something unexpected occur. Many situations—bad weather, injury, or simply a crowded campsite—are less alarming if campers are prepared.

First aid Kit

    Whether a camper plans to make a short day hike from a front country campground or spend a week in the backcountry, a first-aid kit is a must. Many campers make their own, but outdoor stores offer kits that contain the essentials. Besides pain relievers, Band-Aids, and antibiotic ointment, store-purchased kits also include sanitary swabs to disinfect a wound, ointments to relieve the pain of insect bites, and water purification tablets. Moleskin, a cotton adhesive fabric used to cover a blister, is recommended by many campers. Some veteran backpackers wrap duct tape around their heels to prevent their shoes from rubbing and causing blisters. The farther into the backcountry campers plan to travel, the more extensive their first-aid kit should be.

Campers should know how to use items in a first-aid kit before leaving home and should be familiar with basic first-aid techniques, such as how to construct a splint or sling. Knowing how to treat burns and care for cuts, scrapes, muscle strains, sprains, and fractures is also important. The American Red Cross and various camping organizations provide training in basic first-aid procedures. Many books are also available to familiarize campers with wilderness medicine or with specific medical problems that may occur in the backcountry.

Physical Conditioning

    Another aspect of planning overlooked by many first-time campers is physical conditioning. Stretching, doing sit-ups and push-ups, and walking several miles a day are just a few ways campers can prepare. A medium to high level of physical fitness helps campers avoid injuries and accidents that can result from fatigue.  
 

                                                                  More on Camping gear, foods, and safety provisions..

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