The SIGMA Rules Most Campers Forget!
You've been planning this camping trip with your family for months! It is your first time going camping as a family. Despite a long period of preparation, there are several things that campers mostly forget or disregard.
When we are in the wild, we should expect unprecedented things to happen! Risks and hazards are everywhere and when an emergency happens, we should always be prepared. Whenever we encounter an emergency, the bare minimum to do is to call for help, especially if we don't have any idea of what's going on. Even if it is an injury or a situational crisis!
Camping is one of the best escapes to leave all the busy streets and a handful of a crowd and seek peace with nature! But as an act of vigilance, we should be ready for any emergency.
And of the major concerns, campers deal with is what if they get into a problem but they cannot call for help?
Hence, these are the things to do to avoid this worst-case scenario! You might know these things already and have been aware for ages but sometimes we are too excited and confident so we easily forget the must-have things during camping!
Bring a LOT of EXTRA Portable Power Banks
Sometimes one reserve is not enough! We will never know when an emergency will occur so bringing more than one power bank is a must! Let’s all agree that we rely on electricity because we are addicted to our phones, cameras, and other gadgets. For taking videos, photos, and of course for any emergency! So, when camping, having a portable power bank to charge your devices
is a must. However, if you are camping to get rid of those addictions, a power bank is still necessary since it can also be used for charging camping gears and other rechargeable types of equipment.
Bring Extra Fuel
Not all campers nowadays rely on an open fire when cooking, most are likely to be reliant on a butane or propane stove while camping. But the problem is, people usually bring less fuel thinking that their gas consumption will be less. Therefore, it is important to plan out your meals before camping to make sure you will be bringing enough fuel for your trip.
But if you find yourself having a hard time estimating the fuel you need, go and plan a
short trip, and eventually, you will notice how much you consume. If you’re not sure where to start with your fuel estimates, plan a short trip as a test round to see how much fuel you consume.
Airplane Mode
Since electricity is not available in your situation and the signal is also out, make sure to put your phone in airplane mode. Switch your cell phone to airplane mode, especially if you don’t have access to a power source. It will help you save up more battery life for your phone.
Bring a separate radio
Radio can keep you updated about changes in the weather and any safety alerts for the area. This is considered to be a real lifesaver if you’re camping during the winter season and weather patterns cannot be predicted. Now, there are lots of camping-specific radios that include channels so, in case of emergency, you can reach out to nearby camping centers.
Have the necessary information ahead of time, such as a complete and updated MAP of your camping area of choice!
Always make sure that you have a copy of the overview of the campsite you are visiting that does not rely on gadgets. It can be a paper that contains all the information. As early as possible, download the trail maps that are detailed and print them. Even those Step-by-step guides.
You have to download instructions ahead of time. Since you can't depend on mobile maps anymore, having a map and understanding how to properly reads it is also a must-do!
Make sure someone knows where you are going!
This is the most important of all. Even you are solo-camping. Letting someone know where you are will help those who care about you to know what camping ground you are at, what trails you plan to visit, and what date you will be back.
Schedule things ahead and tell someone approximately where you will be. So, if you get lost at some point, someone will be there to find your location.
Even if you can't call them due to signal concerns, make sure to tell somebody ahead of time where you are and if your supposed duration of time passes and you are still missing, then they know that it's time for them to search for you!
And last but not least! DO NOT PANIC! In all situations, panic won't help at all! Stay vigilant and when something goes off, understand the situation, calm your nerves and trust me, you'll find your way out!