Posted on 9th Dec 2011 @ 3:34 PM

Fishing & Camping Safety Tips 

Fishing & Camping are great opportunities to get together with family & friends but sometimes things don’t go smoothly and accidents happen. Whether you are holidaying in a popular tourist spot or a fair way off the beaten track, a little preparation and good planning can go a long way if things are to go wrong. Here are a few Hints & Tips to help make your next Fishing & Camping Trip a memorable one for the right reasons! 

Let’s start with the basics…

 # 1 

Vehicles – Car, Boat, Caravan & Trailer. 

The first step is to make sure all your vehicles are in good mechanical condition or you will not be going anywhere! How long has it been since the vehicles’ last service? How much tread is left on your tyres on both car & trailer? Have the bearings on the trailer been changed or repacked with grease lately? Are your vehicles road or sea worthy? Are your required registrations up to date and labels attached? Do indicators & brake lights work on both car & trailer? Prepare extra fuel, water, tools, basic spare parts and a first aid kit. If you intend to venture off road, check that your vehicle and trailer are suitable for the terrain and that you have packed all necessary recovery & safety equipment such as EPIRB, GPS (Global Positioning Systems), satellite phones, life jackets, weather proof clothing &sufficient food & water for passengers. It is always a good idea to have the local emergency services & numbers programmed into your phone just in case. We always pack an extra tarpaulin in each vehicle; there is nothing worse than being trapped in the blazing sun or pelting rain without cover whilst repairing a flat tyre or the likes. It is also handy to throw under the vehicle whilst making repairs; you have a nice clean surface to lie down on and if you happen to drop any nuts or bolts, they are easily retrieved. 

Remember: Don’t put the lives of your loved ones at risk! 

# 2 

Where do we go? 

The next most important step (remembering the key to a good trip is careful planning) is to Research your desired destination – check what facilities, services & supplies are in the area. If any one has a medical condition or something does go wrong and you need medical attention - How far away is the nearest hospital or doctor?

 Always check with local councils, recreational parks & grounds if there are any laws or restrictions - do you need a permit to fish or camp there? Are you permitted to drive on the beach? Always observe the speed limits & take caution in unfamiliar areas.

Qld Government Primary Industries link to the rules & regulations surrounding recreational fishing in Qld. Includes information on permits, fish stocking, etc.

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_139.htm 

For more information on Government Permits & Regulations contact your local representative or council. 

 

Obtain maps & information of the area – don’t just check for flood plains, rivers, creeks etc, other factors to consider may be seasonal like Coral spawning or threats such as stingers like the Irukandji & Box Jellyfish which inhabit Coastal & Territory waters; the sting is so overpoweringly painful, victims have been known to go into shock and drown or die of heart failure before even reaching the shore. Survivors can experience considerable pain for weeks and often have significant scarring where the tentacles made contact. Each tentacle can get up to 3m long and has up to 5000 stinging cells. Often these jellyfish can be mistaken for a plastic bag floating in the water.

Immediate First Aid for Stings 

 

1. Call for help – Dial 000 (in Australia) for an Ambulance or 911 in USA

2. Emergency Care – Administer CPR if required

3. Treat the sting – Pour Vinegar onto the sting

4. Seek Medical Aid – Transport to patient to hospital 

Another useful emergency number (within Australia) if phoning from a mobile,  with limited or no radio range or credit Phone: 112

For Hearing impaired emergencies Phone: 106

For more information on Australian Marine Stingers go to: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/goodhealthintnq/topics/jellyfish.asp 

If you are taking small children with you and planning on camping next to a river or local swimming hole, be sure the water is not too deep, fast running or has submerged or hidden dangers including steep drop offs. Constantly trying to keep little children away from potential hazards while camping is a nightmare so do your research of the local area before you go. 

 

    Here in Australia we get our fair share of droughts, heat waves, bush fires and occasional dust storm alongside considerable wet periods, tropical cyclones, flash floods & frosts. Always check the weather before heading out http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/?hdr , take the weather into consideration when planning your travel route (avoiding areas known to flooding, if storms are expected) & check tides times http://tides.willyweather.com.au/ if crossing rivers, bars & creeks. Often fisherman & campers are caught off guard with violent weather changes such as storms & flash flooding; if unfamiliar with the area and terrain such freak incidences can quickly turn disastrous. Always be prepared for the worst! 

 

 Warning! 

Two species of Jellyfish found in Australia, the Irukandji on the left which has highly poisonous stingers on their tentacles and bell and a Box Jellyfish on the right. Both can cause trauma, extreme pain and sometimes death, particularly in young children due to the smaller body mass and the elderly with lowered immune systems. 

 

Keep a look out for these Warning Signs you might happen to see in Australia. 

For more information on Australian Marine Stingers go to: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/goodhealthintnq/topics/jellyfish.asp

Pets 

 

Pets are part of the family too so why should they miss out on all the fun? Whether you are pitching a tent in a campground or setting up your van in Holiday Park, always check that animals are allowed, as this could ultimately influence where you end up. In Australia, strong laws forbid domestic animals from entering certain areas and these laws are put into place to protect our beautiful wildlife and environment. Pets are not permitted in National Parks & certain camping grounds, so before you let ‘Fluffy’ off the chain make sure he is going to be welcome or the whole family may be going home disappointed or worse, with a hefty fine! Always check with local councils, recreational parks & grounds if there are any laws or restrictions that may affect you or your pet whilst travelling or on holidays.

 While we are on the subject of Pets – if you do not wish to take your pet with you, be sure to make prior arrangements for your animal to go to a suitable boarding facility or book a pet sitter to mind the pet in your own home while you are away. Either way, book in early to avoid disappointment - your pets’ holiday is just as important as yours! You should book your pets accommodation at the same time as booking your own as most boarding facilities take bookings months or annually in advance – unfortunately some poor creatures are left to fend for themselves when inconsiderate owners leave it to the last minute to make arrangements, thus missing out. Sadly a lot of these animals end up as Holiday Statistics.

Please be a responsible pet owner and make the necessary arrangements for your pet. 

 

Keep an eye on our article on – Fishing, Travelling & Holidaying with Pets – Coming soon! 

 

Some useful links: 

A guide to fishing in national parks 

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/activities_in_parks_and_forests/fishing.html 

 

# 3 

What do we pack? 

Now that you have made up your mind where you are going, the vehicles are ready and the pets are organized, the third step is to pack your gear using our handy check lists. 

The first & most important item to pack is the First Aid Kit which should contain: Antiseptic wash & ointment for cuts and scrapes, tweezers, mini torch, insect repellent, bug spray, tourniquet or snake bite kit, pain relievers, band-aids/plasters, bandages, sterilized gauze and surgical tape, Vinegar, sunscreen, burn ointment and a whistle. We always take Paw Paw ointment with us everywhere; it’s great for insect bites, stings & burns including sunburn. It is also a good idea to keep an Aloe Vera plant in a pot on the boat or in the caravan, it will always come in handy. Aloe is very soothingto sunburn, burns, bites etc. Be sure to replenish supplies to your First Aid Kit after each camping trip.   

 

Camping Essentials 

We use plastic air tight storage containers to pack all our camping gear in; they’re dustproof, waterproof and transparent so you can quickly & easily locate the right contents. If you pay a little extra you can get the real durable type plastic which can handle quite a few knocks. Zip lock bags are also essential and have a variety of uses from storing your favourite pasta sauce, bait or toiletries to keeping the matches dry & mixing ingredients for a campfire recipe. 

 

Checklist 

• Shelter & Bedding - Tent, guide ropes, pegs, hammer, ground sheet, poly tarpaulin for rain cover or shade & extra rope, sleeping bags, swags, mattress (pump if using air mattresses), pillows, & linen. Remember to pack extra linen should bedding get wet or bad weather prevents it from drying out. If this is your first time camping, now is a good time to do a trial run setting up your tent in the back yard – arriving at the campsite with only half the tent pegs or guide ropes required is not fun and forces one to improvise with other items that may not be suitable for the task and cause safety issues. 

• Basic Camping Equipment – Torches, lanterns or portable lights and extra batteries, matches or a lighter, camp chairs & table, pocket knife, an axe and a shovel. I always make sure the kids have each got their own torch a camp whistle (it saves a lot of arguing over who gets to hold it and you can pick them up relatively cheap in the discount stores.) The whistles I put on a brightly coloured lanyard and the children are under strict instruction to ONLY use in the case of emergency. It is also handy if you have a basic campsite layout so when you get to your campsite; you know exactly what to unpack first and where to put it. 

• Basic Fishing Equipment – Fishing rod to suit the type of fishing you plan on doing, line mono or braid, tackle box containing a variety of hooks, swivels, lures, jigs, soft plastics, sinkers, knife, cutters, Hook-Eze, a ruler or size chart to measure your catch (always obey legal size limits), an old rag, bucket, bait. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of the above, you can make do with a couple of these things put together with simple substitutes you will find in and around your camp. (Stay tuned for more on this later in - Fishing Hints & Tips – Coming Soon!) 

• Clothing - Weatherproof jacket, Jumper, windcheater, Long & short pants, T-shirts & long sleeved shirts, Sun hat or cap, Hiking boots and shoes, Sandals or thongs & don’t forget extra underwear! In most parts of Australia the weather can be unpredictable varying greatly, depending on the region & time of year; temperatures can soar up to 50 degrees Celsius then plummet down to to way below Zero! Always research the weather of your destination & travel route and pack appropriate clothing. 

• Personal Items – Toiletries such as tooth brush & tooth paste, environmentally friendly soap, cosmetics, Medications & supplements, Bath towels, face washers, Toilet paper & tissues, Sunscreen, insect repellent, Sunglasses, waterproof watch & a compact mirror, handy for numerous reasons. 

• Games & Activities for the children – Portable DVD & music players might be okay for the older kids, but what do you do with the littlies? Colouring books & pencils, reading books, magnetic board games & travel games such as “I Spy” & “Travel Bingo” will help to keep them busy when travelling but remember to pack balls, bats & bikes for those longer stops along the way - these tend to wear the kids out faster than just simply getting them out of the car to stretch their legs! Remember, if the weather turns bad, you could be spending a lot of time cooped up indoors with the children, so for everyone’s safety and sanity - make sure you have plenty of games & activities up your sleeve! 

• Other Items – Camera, notepad & pen, backpack, clock, Maps, Travel Books, Permits, Receipts and tourism info. 

• Cooking Equipment - Stove, camp oven or portable barbeque, cooking plate or grill, Aluminium Foil, pots, saucepans, frying pan, camp kettle, cooler, esky or fridge, small cutting board and cooking utensils such as tongs, skewers, baking trays, toasting rack, vegetable peeler, spatula, cups, plates, bowls and cutlery, dish cloth, sponge, environmentally friendly detergent, zip lock bags, rubbish bags, paper towels, heat proof glove for removing items from the fire, large water jug or container. 

Pantry Items – Whether you prefer your food Fresh, tinned or packaged, you need to be prepared. Bread, milk, butter & meat can usually be bought along the way, but you will need to take the basics with you. Here are some of our pantry staples:

  

• Small bottle of olive oil, Salt & Pepper, Vinegar (for jellyfish stings as well as cooking).
• Cereal, Pasta, Flour, Bi-Carb of Soda, Golden Syrup, Honey, Rice.
• Tinned beans, tomatoes, sweet corn & lentils,
• a small bottle of tomato ketchup &/or paste,
• portions of dried herbs &spices in small zip lock bags,
• Tea bags, coffee, sugar or sweeteners,
• Litre cartons of fruit juice, frozen to use as ice packs in the cooler or esky.
• Bottled water (some campsites have drinking water available but it pays to check before you get there).
• Fresh Garlic, Potatoes, Beetroot & Ginger.
• Long life, condensed or powdered milk.
• Jar of Peanut Butter or jam.
• Rice cakes, crisp breads (Salada’s or Rivita)  

 

# 4 

Before you leave 

 

Tell someone responsible where you are going (give them the name of the park if possible), your travel route and expected time of arrival and return. Remember to let them know if you are planning on extending your stay or changing route and be sure to let them know when you arrive home safely. 

Pre-cook any foods such as your favourite homemade biscuits or sauce and store in air tight containers or zip lock bags. Note: Some camp grounds may not provide rubbish bins or a waste removal system so you may have to take your waste home with you, so storing food in re-usable, air tight containers & zip lock bags will reduce the rubbish you bring home with you. 

Always check local weather forecasts, radar images & warnings before heading out http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/?hdr 

Keep an eye on the sky for changes & carry a compact radio and GPS if possible. Be sure to fully charge all devices before leaving and take portable 12v charges or converters if required. 

Check your house is secured and all power, oven, heaters, lights, fans etc are turned off or set to automatic. Empty perishables from your fridge and empty bins; there is nothing worse than arriving home to a house full of flies & a bin full of maggots! 

If leaving your pets at home, be sure the pet minder has all your contact details including name of Tourist Park etc, and you have left them with adequate food & instructions, including an emergency number should your pet require immediate medical attention and they have difficulty reaching you.

Double check all check lists and check the weather again http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/?hdr YES…AGAIN!

# 5

Are we there yet? 

Kids can get bored quickly and while travelling, this can lead to disruptions when driving, resulting in lack of concentration and potential accidents. Keep the kids amused while travelling by preparing travel games and activities in advance to keep boredom at bay. Portable DVD’s, music players and gaming devices are fun ways to help travel time pass quicker, but I always encourage the children to leave the electronics at home. Our eldest daughter loves making travel bingo cards tailored to each specific camping trip. 

Keep an eye on our upcoming article on more travel games & activities for kids in – Fishing, Travelling & Holidaying with Children!   

While on the road be sure to check fuel supplies, air, water, oil etc when making pit stops, and regularly check tarpaulins & trailer covers are tied down securely. Make sure life jackets and other items are secured inside the vehicle; many life jackets blow out of the back of boats when travelling down the highway at 100km/h, causing hazards to other motorists and their owners are none the wiser. It would also be a huge disappointment arriving at your destination without the proper safety gear. 

Read signs and maps, brochures and camp rules carefully. Don’t be too shy to ask for directions & take notice of SAFETY WARNINGS - they are there for a reason! 

Dial 000 for Fire, Police or Ambulance if in Australia or 911 if in the USA.

If something goes wrong, always stay with your vehicle or boat if safe to do so.  

# 6 

Choosing a good site 

When you first arrive at the camp ground, take a good look around. Check for safety hazards like traffic, waterways and natural water courses; the last thing you need is all your camping gear floating off down stream in a flash flood or run over by vehicles as a result of setting up camp in the wrong spot. Dry creek beds & river beds are not the safest areas to pitch a tent; if in the event of rain or if the creek is tidal, you may be caught by surprise. Always check local tide times as some areas may have very unpredictable or abnormally high tides and depending on the phase of the moon & recent weather, King tides & storm surges could also devastate your chosen camp site, so choose wisely and rely on local knowledge and information.

 

For tides & weather - http://tides.willyweather.com.au/ 

 

Many beaches, rivers & billabongs in the northern parts of Australia are inhabited by Crocodiles and although accessible waterways are generally signposted, always obey WARNING SIGNS: if you do not see a safe swimming sign, you should not take the risk of entering the water and avoid the water’s edge wherever possible. Just because you can’t see any Crocs, it doesn’t mean they’re not there – these stealthy creatures wait patiently in the water for hours, watching & waiting for their next meal to come by. If you are in a Croc area, always watch your pets & kids, never turn your back on the water and never camp in the same spot for more than a couple of days; Crocs are known to watch campers for days on end, learning the routines and then making their move when you least expect it. Always pitch your tent at least 2m above the water mark and 50m from the waters edge and avoid areas where native animals and domestic stock go to drink as the Crocs know these areas are easy pickings for a meal. If you see a crocodile sliding mark (a crocodile sliding into the water from a river bank will leave a characteristic mark), stay well clear of that area.

Crocs are more aggressive during the breeding season from September to May and the warm weather also makes cold blooded animals more active and a lot faster.   

Look for a level site with enough room to spread out all your gear and check the ground for broken glass, sharp objects, poisonous plants, bees, ant nests, etc. 

We all love a little shade, especially in the hot summer months, but it is advised not to pitch camp directly under large gum trees, they are notorious for dropping huge branches without warning – never camp directly under any large tree or unstable structure.

 If you are planning on staying at a popular camp ground or fishing spot, make sure you plan your trip so you arrive early to avoid disappointment as particular seasons attract varying crowds and always make sure you arrive well before dark to give yourself enough time to check over the entire site and set up camp.

 

# 7 

Setting up camp 

Okay, now that you have found the perfect spot it is time to set up camp. If you do not have a rake or broom amongst your camping gear, you can sweep the area with some twigs or small branches, making sure there are no sharp objects or twigs that could potentially pierce your ground sheet or air mattress. 

When camping with young children, your campsite layout will play a major role in camp safety; don’t just rush in setting up tents left, right and centre. Be aware of walkways, roadways, tracks and other campers’ guide ropes and boundaries when setting up your tent. Most campgrounds have several roads in and around the camping area so campers can access their campsites with their vehicles. Always supervise children around the campsite and never let them play on a main pathway or road where vehicles are likely to travel. 

A good campsite layout is essential for safety. 

As your campfire will probably be the focal point of the campsite, it should be located in or close to the centre of your open area. Ideally you want your tents facing into the campsite & campfire; if the tents are slightly angled so they are up-wind from the fire, they won’t fill up with smoke. While some campsites allow plenty of space to spread yourself out, others cram campers in like sardines, but if space allows, it is recommended to have tents at least 6 metres apart from each other to prevent the risk of fire spreading. 

HINT: A simple door mat or ground cloth placed at the entrance of the tent for shoes to sit and wipe on, certainly keeps the tent cleaner if you are unable to prevent kids from going in & out.

 Another focal point of the campsite is the picnic table/meals area which should be located between the cooking area and the campfire. An esky or cooler near the picnic table containing drinks and snacks for the children will reduce the traffic through the cooking area for added safety. 

If you are not using your campfire for cooking, it is best to have a designated Cooking area for food storage, cooking & rubbish removal on the outer edge of the campsite’s open area so it is not in the way of other camp activities but still easy to access. You will need a grey water hole to empty the dish water and other non-food liquids and this should be a bit further from the cooking area/camp kitchen than a regular rubbish bin. Always remember to remove all food scraps & rubbish each night to prevent wildlife from entering the campsite. If the campground does not provide rubbish bins or a proper waste removal system, then you might consider using re-usable containers & zip lock bags to store food in before leaving home, to reduce the amount of rubbish you bring home with you. 

Make sure you have a safe activity area designated for the children and if riding bikes, skateboards etc, make sure they are out of harms way of passing traffic, water craft included. The children’s play area should be away from unsafe areas such as the campfire, cooking and wood chopping areas but still within eyesight and close to the main camp. 

If you are not in a primitive camping ground or have a portable camping toilet, you will need a designated Toilet or Latrine area. This should be in the opposite direction of the Cooking & Food areas and close to the tents for the children’s safety – but not too close, you don’t want any nasty odours wafting back into the campsite. Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or a buddy on late night toilet trips and if provided with their own special torch and a toilet close by, that scary trip to the bush toilet isn’t so bad after all.

 HINT: We use brightly coloured guide ropes and/or attach fluro coloured tags to each rope so they can be easily seen, especially in the dark on the way back from a midnight toilet trip and the kids feel safer too, knowing they can spot their tent quickly out of what is sometimes a sea of tents in a crowded camp ground. Different coloured ropes or tags can also designate “out of bounds” areas for little children, to keep them from entering the cooking areas where potential hazards are high. We also man each of the children with a whistle attached to a lanyard around their necks so they can summon for help if needed which they are to carry with them at all times and their own torch after the sun goes down. We have also implemented a buddy system which only allows them out of the main campsite if they are accompanied by at least one friend known & trusted by the group.  

 

# 8 

Keeping the Camp area clean 

Leave no trace – dispose of your waste!

Always be considerate of our environment, wildlife and other campers by taking your rubbish with you. 

DO NOT BURN ANY RUBBISH – paper, aluminium, cardboard & plastic wrappers may not burn completely and can release dangerous contaminants into the air & soil. Food scraps do not completely burn either and attract wildlife to the area which poses major problems not just for the campers but the wildlife as well. 

Often campers are attacked and tents raided by wildlife, due to rubbish & food waste not being disposed of correctly and at the same time hundreds of animals are injured & die each year from inconsiderate campers leaving their rubbish behind. Fishing line and other rubbish left behind by fishers unfortunately takes its toll on our wildlife and is a serious issue. Fishing line discarded from boats, beaches, jetties or anywhere else can remain in the aquatic environment for very long periods of time continuing to kill or injure marine life & other animals. 

It is also worth mentioning the rate of decomposition of household rubbish commonly left to the environment - A simple banana peel can take up to a month to decompose, paper a couple of months, a cigarette butt up to 5 years and a disposable nappy 2 decades! A tin can takes a century to break down down, Aluminium taking 3 centuries, plastic containers & glass take eons, so don’t try burying it either!

Remember – Consider the environment, wildlife and other campers by taking your rubbish with you.

Keep an eye on this spot for More Camping Safety Tips Coming Soon!