Picnic Safety

Picnics are a great way to have fun, but whenever you take your family into the great outdoors there are risks that you may encounter. Not just to do with food either.

You should definitely remember to enjoy yourself but a few simple things will make for an easy and painless trip. Take a look below for some picnic safety tips to keep in mind while you are having fun.

Check out the area before you start settling in.
Watch out for areas that are particularly rocky, or that might be too close to drop offs. Do a quick walk around the perimeter of the place that you are planning on staying; this is a good way to make sure you're not settling down on a wasps' nest!

Besides the walk may reveal interesting places to return to and will help work up an apatite. If getting there hasn't already.

Get the kids involved
Picnic safety relates to the whole family so get the kids involved. No matter how old your kids are, give them small jobs to do, especially if you are planning on grilling or barbecue. Maybe they can husk the corn for the grill or gather up small sticks for tinder. Busy hands do not stray into danger easily. Keeping them occupied and in sight is the safest thing to do.

Carry a first aid kit with you
Chances are, you'll be dealing with a few scrapes or cuts at some point, and when you do, you'll be grateful to have some ointment and some fresh bandages to put on it. There should be a pair of tweezers in there, in case that a tick or splinter needs to be removed.

Wear the right clothing
If you are going into a wooded area, make sure that your children wear long pants, even if it is a bit warmer. Ticks and brambles can do a real number on your ability to enjoy a picnic, so make sure that you remember this basic picnic safety tip!

Check in
Check in with the local ranger's station or park station to see if there's anything going on in the area. Always make sure that someone knows where you have settled in. This way, you can be warned of anything that might be happening. Especially if you plan on swimming or are hoping to do so, ask the rangers or other park officials what whatever is safe and what is off limits.

Animals are wonderful, keep it that way keep it safe
No matter how young or old your children are, discuss proper behavior with regards to animals with them. The animals that they encounter will be wild, something that children, especially children raised in urban environments, might have some problems with.

Tell them never try to touch a wild animal, and if possible, ask a ranger or other park workers to discuss this issue with them.

Always dispose of food, food containers and food wrappings according to park directions. This will help keep the animals safe and healthy and less interested in coming too close to were you a picnicking.

Watch the clouds it's fun and wise
Check the weather when you go out, and if possible, check it again when you get to the site. Regardless of what you are expecting, make sure you have the option of changing into warmer clothes.

While it might fall into the realm of being over-prepared, having an extra change of clothes along might be a great idea, especially if you are thinking about swimming or going near the water.

Planning ahead is part of picnic safety so always make sure that you have a few extra blankets with you. These are handy things that you can just stuff into your car and forget about, but if the weather turns cool and you are dressed for warmer times, they'll be quite useful.

Keep foods well
A big part of picnic safety involves your food. Beware of anything with eggs in it, and make sure that any meat you bring along is well-packed and quite fresh, even if you are planning on grilling it. Dragging food out into the sun can risk food poisoning, so make sure that you know how well all your food keeps.

Bring lots of water. There may be a shortage of portable water at the site, so save up some milk jugs, rinse them out and fill them up before you leave home. If you have some extra, you can dump them before heading home, to lighten the load.

Here is a site that not only talks lots more about food safety but has a interesting recipe on Spiced Iced Tea.

Let the sun shine, not your skin
When thinking of picnic safety, think about the environment you are heading into. Bring your sunscreen; if possible, get sunscreen that is made specifically for children as this affords better protection. This will prevent you from getting nasty burns. Similarly, keep an eye out for sun exposure, like dizziness, nausea and redness.
(more... The American Red Cross)

There's no reason that you can't have a great deal of fun when you are on a picnic, but just remember your picnic safety tips!

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