Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
a) Camp away from streams or dry creek beds
• These areas flood easily and you may not have enough time to get to high ground.
Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
b) Avoid camping where rocks or dead trees might fall
• Dead trees could fall on your tent during the night when a wind comes up.
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
c) Do not camp on a wild game trail.
• During the night large game may run through camp and knock down your tents and equipment or may cause injury to themselves or you.
Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
d) Avoid camping on the edge of a cliff.
• Sleepwalking, Land Slide, etc.
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
e) Camp near a screen of trees that shelters the tents from strong winds.
• Though you still want some breeze to keep down the number of flying insects.
Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Rules for Selecting a Camp
f) Avoid lightning prone areas.• Do not camp on the top of a ridge or in a wide-open
basin or beside the tallest trees in the area where lightning is likely to strike.
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Bad Weather Conditions
Safety Rules for lightning
a) Get 100 feet away from metal objects, backpacks, fences, etc.
b) Take cover under trees that are lower than others around you.
• Sit or lie down on something that can insulate you from lightning, such as a rubber sleeping mat.
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Bad Weather Conditions
Safety Rules for Tornado
a) Move to a designated tornado shelter if available.
b) If there is no structure nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch.
• If tornado shelter is not available, find a basement or an interior room of a house such as a closet or bathroom. Do not stay in vehicles or mobile homes.
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Bad Weather Conditions
Safety Rules for Hail
a) Find Shelter Immediately!
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Bad Weather Conditions
Safety Rules for Heavy Rain
a) Stay away from flooded creeks, streams, and drainage ditches
• The banks may collapse when they become saturated with water.
Camp Safety Merit
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Solid/Liquid Waste
Disposal of Solid and Liquid Waste • Guess what the first jobs is upon arriving at a campsite.
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Solid/Liquid Waste
Procedure for disposing of solid and liquid waste. a) Dig the latrine 300’ feet from a water supply and
swimming area. b) Dig the hole for the latrine 6-10” inches deep. c) Each person should cover his waste with dirt. d) It is best to dig the pit for the latrine in dark-colored
soil. • The sun heats up microorganisms in the dark soil and decompose the
solid waste more quickly.
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Proper Food Handling
Safety Precautions to avoid E. Coli • A bacterium that may cause diarrhea and possible death.• E. Coli comes the intestines of humans and animals.a) Wash face/hands before eating/preparing food.b) Thoroughly cook meat products.c) Make sure eating/cooking utensils are thoroughly
cleaned by rinsing them in hot water two times.
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Proper Food Handling
Safety Precautions to avoid Salmonella • A bacterium that can occur in all foods, including meat, seafood,
dairy, and even fruits and vegetables.• It causes severe diarrhea, dehydration, fever; vomiting, headache,
and abdominal cramping. a) Wash face/hands before eating/preparing food.b) Thoroughly cook ALL FOODS.c) Make sure eating/cooking utensils are thoroughly
cleaned by rinsing them in hot water two times.
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Proper Food Handling
Safety Precautions to avoid Hepatitis A • A virus that may be found in contaminated foods, water; and
shellfish. • It causes fever; weakness, loss of appetite, digestive upsets,
abdominal pains, and muscle pains. a) Wash face/hands before eating/preparing food.b) Make sure eating/cooking utensils are thoroughly
cleaned by rinsing them in hot water two times.
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Proper Food Handling
Define “Botulism” a) A poisoning produced by botulinus bacteria,
sometimes found in foods improperly canned or preserved.
• The victim suffering from Botulism has muscle paralysis and disturbances of vision and breathing, and the poisoning is often fatal.
• Check and avoid food items that are found to be opened, have a broken safety seal, or dented.
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Proper Food Handling
Importance of properly storing food while camping.a) Properly stored food prevents illness, prevents
contamination by dirt and pests. b) Microorganisms multiply rapidly when fresh
meats, fruits, and vegetables are allowed to warm between 70-100 degrees, which can lead to illness.
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Proper Food Handling
What can be done to prevent food spoilage a) Food Spoils due to the growth of
microorganisms that cause decay.b) Conditions such as temperature and moisture
encourage spoilage c) Food spoilage can also be caused by the
bruising of fruits/vegetables, pest infestation, and mixing fresh and cooked food (cross-contamination).
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Proper Food Handling
Other ways to prevent food spoilage • Mixing Foods is not a good idea. Meats should always be
stored by themselves. • It is best to separate fruit and vegetables from meat because of
the danger of food poisoning by cross-contamination. • When going on an extended camp-out of a week or more, meat
should be stored in separate cooler chests so that they do not have to open the cooler chests any more than necessary.
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Proper Food Handling
Other ways to prevent food spoilage • Keep the meat that is going to be used near the end of the camp-
out separate from the meat that will be used at the beginning of the camp-out.
• The more times a cooler is opened the more quickly the ice will melt and the internal temperature of the cooler will rise unless the water is drained off and more ice is added.
• When possible buy precooked meat or precook your meat before campout
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Cut & Chop Area
The purpose of a Cut & Chop Area a) A the place to stack firewood, such as tinder;
kindling, and fuel. b) A place to safely:
1. Cut and chop wood with an ax 2. Saw wood using a bow saw and sawhorse 3. Split wood with a ax or maul
c) A place to store tools in a tool rack, such as a shovel, rake, hammer; bow saw, and ax.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns a) Always inspect the propane connections
for damage, dirt, and debris before attaching the cylinder.
b) Inspect the 0-ring on the regulator for damage before use.
c) Always light and use the stove outdoors, never inside a house, camper; tent, or other unventilated or enclosed areas.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns d) This stove consumes air (oxygen). Do
not use it in unventilated or enclosed areas to avoid endangering your life.
e) Never store propane near a flame, pilot light, other ignition sources, or where temperatures exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns f) Replace the protective cap on the cylinder
after detaching the cylinder from the appliance.
g) Use the stove as a cooking appliance only, never as a space heater.
h) Never leave the stove unattended while burning.
i) Keep the stove away from flammables. Never allow fabric, clothing, or any flammable material to come within four feet of the top and one foot of all sides of the stove.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns j) Use the preset 15-psi (pounds per
square inch) regulator that comes with the stove. Do not attempt to adjust it.
k) Propane is heavier than air and will accumulate in low places. If you smell gas in an enclosure, leave the area immediately and ventilate it thoroughly.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns l) During stove setup, check all the hoses
and fittings for leaks using soapy water; never use a flame. Always keep the refillable cylinder outdoors, never inside a house, camper; or tent.
m) Never refill disposable cylinders.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Propane Stoves/Lanterns n) Clean the stove frequently to avoid
grease accumulations and possible grease fires.
o) Keep it out of reach of children.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Liquid Stoves/Lanterns a) Do not use it in unventilated areas.
This stove consumes air (oxygen). Ample ventilation must be provided. Provide additional ventilation for persons and other fuel-burning appliances occupying the same enclosed area.
b) Never alter the fuel in any way or use it with any other device.
c) Never use the stove as a space heater.d) Never leave the stove unattended while
burning.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Liquid Stoves/Lanterns e) Use only clean, fresh white gas or
Coleman fuel. Never use fuels containing lubricating oils, lead compounds, or other metallic compounds.
f) Fuel for the stove is extremely flammable. Use the same care as when using gasoline.
g) Never leave the stove unattended while burning.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Liquid Stoves/Lanterns h) Store the fuel in a clean, properly marked
metal container and keep the container away from a flame (including pilot lights), other ignition sources, or excessive heat.
i) Never fill the tank or loosen or remove the fuel cap while the tank is on, attached to the stove, near aflame (including pilot lights), near other sources of ignition, or near excessive heat.
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Propane Stove/Lanterns
Safety Rules for Liquid Stoves/Lanterns j) Never allow tents, sleeping bags,
clothing, or any flammable material to come within three feet of the top and one foot of all sides of the stove.
k) Clean the stove frequently to avoid grease accumulations and possible grease fires.
l) Keep out of Reach of Children.
Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Precautions
TRUE OR FALSE
Camp away from streams or dry creek beds
Camp Safety Merit
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Selecting a Campsite
Safety Precautions
TRUEYou should always avoid camping near streams or dry creak beds. These areas flood easily and you may not have enough time to get to high ground.