Safe camping reminders - camping: equipment, and safety tips

The bonfire blazed at an adjoining campsite, and Melisa, sitting on her father's lap, sang her version of campfire songs. After Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "The Alphabet Song," she yawned, stretched, then bolted upright and pointed to the sky. "Look, Daddy," s exclaimed, "the stars have opened!"

if you plan to sleep under the stars your next family vacation, you can take steps to help make it safe and healthy. PLANNING Study camping guides and travel brochures, with their enticing pictures of wooded hiking trails and serene lakes, and select an area with suitable activities for the whole family.

Prepare a camping checklist of everything you want to take with you. Include your doctor's telephone number, prescriptions and medications, a first-aid kit, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Add a favorite toy or teddy bear for your child. Plan to take along your baby's playpen. It can double as a crib at night. This permanent list can be updated each year as you add new equipment and as the family's needs and interests change. PACKING

Pull out your checklist and start packing. Make cardboard sheaths to over the blades of kitchen knives, axes, and other sharp objects. Pack items into manageable sized loads and lift properly to protect your back. Secure items inside your vehicle so that they won't become projectiles in case of a sudden stop. This is especially important if you are driving a van or a station wagon. SETUP On arrival at your destination, select a campsite with care. Avoid high traffic areas such as near the entrance, bathrooms, swimming pool, camp store, or garbage dumpster. When camping with other families, try to get sites on the same side of the road. Excited children might not remember to look for cars when running back and forth between sites. Become familiar with the campground rules and regulations. Note their emergency procedures and the location of the nearest telephone.

Place your tent or trailer a safe distance from the campfire site. Arrange clotheslines, electric cords, trailer hitches, and guy ropes so that they won't present a tripping hazard. Use grounded three-wire extension cords and check the insulation for cracks or breaks. Protect the plugs and sockets from water and don't handle electrical equipment when wet.

Stake your tent and install guy ropes to prevent wind damage. Trailers should be leveled and all supports installed. If you need help, ask a neighbor. Campers tend to be very helpful to each other. EQUIPMENT Follow manufacturer's directions for cooking stoves and camping lanterns, and use approved fuel. Fill them away from open flames and let the vapor dissipate before lighting.

Keep lit lanterns and stoves away from tents and other flammable objects.

Never use them in a closed tent because of the danger of carbon monoxide gas. Carry and store your fuel in approved con tainers. FOOD

Appetites become hearty in the fresh air, and it's easy to maintain your healthy eating habits while camping. Try vegetables roasted over an open fire in foil packets, such as potatoes, peppers, onions, summer squashes, and sweet corn. For healthy snacks, make popcorn and buy fresh fruit from local produce stands.

Purchase all perishables in small quantities and use them promptly. Food in ice chests does not keep as long as in your home refrigerator. CAMPFIRES

The campfire is the center of many memorable camping experiences. However, the fire can be dangerous and should be treated with respect. The fuel should be clean. Plywood, pressed board, pressure-treated lumber, and painted wood can create harmful fumes when burned. Wear safety glassed when chopping firewood. Work in an open area so that others won't get hit by flying chips. Make your fire in designated areas and clear away leaves and other debris that can spread the flames. Flammable liquids such as gasoline, fuel, or charcoal lighter can cause an explosion if used to kindle a slow-starting fire. Always extinguish your campfire before leaving your site or going to bed. ANIMALS Raccoons are cute with their black masks, ringed tails, and handlike front paws.

They are also intelligent can open jugs, raid refrigerators, and open picnic coolers.

While camping in a wooded campground, I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. by the sounds of animals snarling and my neighbor, Sue, screaming. Fourteen raccoons had ripped their way linto a small tent that Tim and Sue were using to store their food and equipment, and were fighting over their newfound treasure.

"Get in the car!" Tim directed her.

He then attempted to chase the furry bandits out of the tent. But with arched backs and bared teeth, they held their ground.

"Maybe you could get behind the tent, beat on it with a branch, and scare them," Sue called from the safety of the car.

Tim followed her suggestions. Finally the uninvited guests left. For the remainder of their stay, Tim and Sue stored their food in the trunk of their car.

Observe and enjoy all the animals in their natural setting.

Even though they may have lost their fear of man in the park environment, they could become aggressive if they felt threatened or were protecting food or their young. RELAX & ENJOY.