Camping in safety with your Tent

For many people, camping is a traditional part of how they spend their summer, heading away for a week or two in this country or Europe, or fitting in a couple of weekend trips. A camping holiday can be great fun for all the family and one of the least expensive options for a break.

For others, it might be a new experience.

Camping generally is a good way to enjoy the outdoors. But in the excitement of a trip and because of the unfamiliar surroundings and methods for doing things, for example camp cooking is likely to be a vastly different experience to food preparation while in the comfort of your own kitchen, accidents may easily happen. To ensure your camping holiday goes smoothly, especially if it is your very first time in a tent, be aware of the key safety issues:

Fire is a significant risk when you are camping. To reduce the risk:

Allow at least 6m spacing between tents and caravans to reduce the risk of fire spreading

Never use fuel-burning devices such as disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills inside a tent. Apart from the fact that you will get lots of condensation in your tent, even a fire-resistant tent may burn. Be particularly mindful of potential risk of fire inside smaller tents with only one exit.

Never use candles in or near a tent for illumination - torches are much safer. Never use naked flames inside a tent.

Flammable liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders should be kept outside the tent. Don’t change gas canisters or refuel petrol or meths stoves inside your tent and store outside if possible.

Cooking appliances should never be used in small tents, cooking inside a tent is not recommended. Practise using your stove prior to going on your trip - and ensure the stove or barbecue is sited on a solid surface to reduce the risk of it falling over.

Check the rules regarding open fires and barbecues at your campsite; some will not allow them at all and others will restrict them to designated areas

Look at the site prior to deciding to pitch your tent, so avoid carrying it out in the dark. Ideally, be at your site before sunset so that you can see where other campers might have fires, barbecues, stoves and heaters

Keep matches and lighters in a waterproof container and away from children

Have an escape plan. Make sure all fires are damped down and that stoves, gas lamps, barbecues etc. are out before you go to bed
Have a plan for if a fire gets out of hand e.g. do you have a fire escape plan and where is the nearest source of water?

The burning of fossil fuels produces carbon monoxide (CO) there have been deaths and serious injuries from CO poisoning in tents and caravans. Do not use stoves or disposable barbecues (for cooking or warmth) in an enclosed space with poor ventilation. This is relevant even in tents.

Electric leads for your tent

When thinking about electric leads to your tent and general caravan accessories always use a mobile mains unit such as Triple Mobile Mains Unit, these have a trip so gives protection against electric shock.