Hammock camping emergency preparedness tips

The word emergency means different things to different people, for example, to some people a bad hair day is an emergency and to others getting late for work is an emergency.

The best way to avoid emergency situations is to prepare for them; the problem is you can’t prepare for all the risks that you might face when hammock camping. This means that it’s best to focus on those emergencies that can result in injuries or worse.

Insect emergencies

Each time you go out camping you know that you will encounter insects, the problem with some insects such as bees and wasps is they bite. The bites can result in severe pain or worse, therefore if you know that bees are in the area avoid them at all cost this is also true with wasps. If you see a hornets’ nest, you should not disturb it; this can only be done safely by someone wearing a safety suit.

I think you know that you should never tease bees, acts like throwing stones or water at bees can result in multiple stings. You should also avoid wearing perfume or using smelly soaps i.e. if you must wear deodorant or perfume choose one that doesn’t smell like roses. If you are camping with your pet or kids, make sure that they don’t disturb bees.

Remember when bees attack hiding in the bushes won’t work, what you have to do is protect face and flee the area as fast as your legs can take you.

Other insects such as mosquitoes, ants and spiders can be kept at bay with a good bug repellent or a bug net.

Always carry a first aid kit

Modern man is not built to survive in the woods, you have no claws to defend yourself,  you can’t outrun most creatures in the wild, and there is a chance that you might get injured or fall sick when you are hammock camping.

As a consequence of this, you should always carry a first aid kit, what truly matters is what’s inside the kit. You need bandages, medicines and anything that can be used during emergencies.

It is also recommended that you take anti-malarial drugs before you go on a trip especially if you are visiting tropical regions.

Contingency measure

Before you go out on a hammock camping trip especially if you are going alone (not recommended) you should make sure that you tell someone exactly where you are going, the idea is for them to know exactly where to find you if an emergency happens. A good option is when you reach your destination call and inform someone that you are there. If you're interested, check here for hammock style and ideas.

You should also avoid posting your plans recklessly on social media; if you do you might make it easy for people with ill intent to find you.

The weather

Weather is very unpredictable a day can start out very hot and end with temperatures plunging to near zero conditions or thunderstorms; there is also the possibility of tornadoes and other weather-related dangers. What you can do here is check the weather forecast before you leave, if it’s predicted that things won’t go well its best to cancel the trip.