Next Time You Go Camping (Or On Vacation), Utilize These 10 Explorer Safety Tips To Stay Safe

A woman is having relationship problems, and decides to get away from it all by going on a camping trip to a small lake town. She doesn’t want anyone to bother her, so she doesn’t tell anyone where she is going or how long she will be gone, and she goes alone. On her way, she sees a road, that someone had told her before was an excellent short cut; it's getting late, and she wants to get to her campsite as soon as possible. She turns down the road, not knowing for certain where it leads.

After driving for several miles, she hears a loud *POP*, and pulls over, to discover that her tire had blown out. She had meant to get the tire fixed, but funds were a bit tight. She looks down at her cellphone to call roadside assistance, but the battery is dead, and she forgot to pack a charger. She thinks she sees a light for a 24-hour gas station ahead, so she creaks her car down the road, until she is able to park and ask for help.

She walks into the gas station, and learns that one of the mechanics had volunteered to work a late shift at the register, and that he would be more than happy to put a new tire on her car, even though the garage was closed for the night. The new tire would cost $150. The only problem? The had only brought $175, and that would not leave her enough money for the camping trip.

As she was standing at the register, a couple of teenagers wearing dirty bluejeans, t-shirts, and trucker hats scoffed at her, made a comment about “tourists” then proceeded outside to her car; judging by the way she was dressed, she clearly was not from that area. The woman decided that the camping trip could wait, and it was more important to get home than to go camping. She goes outside to get her money from the glove box in her car, only to discover the driver side door is wide open, and her money is gone.

On her way back into the gas station, she hears someone say from the shadows beside the building, “Hey, I saw who broke into your car. Come over here, I took pictures.” The woman walks to the side of the building, only to discover the two teens. They corner her, telling her that they know she has more money, and she had better “cough it up.” She tries to get away, and is successful, but in the process, she falls and twists her ankle, and scratches up her arms pretty badly. The two teenagers ran away.

She limps inside of the gas station, and the mechanic that was working the register called 9-1-1 to get her assistance. The woman managed to make it back home, safely, and in one piece, but her trip was ruined.

The story written above is fictitious, and never happened (to my knowledge), however, the woman in this story broke several major rules of traveler safety. Unfortunately, similar events HAVE happened to multiple people while traveling, and this story was a combination of their instances. In most cases, the individuals didn’t have THIS terrible of an experience traveling, however, the rules that they unknowingly broke did cause some major inconvenience for them while traveling.

In the following article, we are going to discuss my 10 biggest traveler safety rules, and how to travel safely to ensure that your trip is fun, and goes off with less problems.

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1. Always plan your trip

I cannot stress this enough, and you will hear me preach about this time-and-time-again… ALWAYS… PLAN… YOUR.. TRIP… Sure, having a full detailed plan kind of takes away from the adventure, to some people, but it also removes many variables of what can go wrong.

Map the driving route to your destination, and while you are doing so, check for any potential road closings on your route to avoid “detours”. Try to stick to major highways, as there is more potential to get help if something goes wrong, and there are also more places to stop for fuel.

If you are going to tour certain places, plan ahead of time. Make sure that you are going to be at a location around the time you have planned. If you are going to check out a place that isn’t on your plan, make sure you allow for time to hit the rest of your itinerary.

By planning your trip, you remove variables such as road construction, closed bridges, or getting lost on detours. And all of these variables can cause significant delays in your plans.

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2. Always make sure SOMEONE knows your itinerary

If you are traveling any significant distance, make sure that someone you trust knows where you will be, and approximately when you will be there. This is very important when you are traveling someplace off the beaten path. It’s kind of like checking in with a parent when you were a teen. Remember how your parents always asked where you were going, and told you to check in once you arrived? Well, there was a reason.

If you are on the road, and you happen to have car problems, but you don’t have cell phone signal, it can spell major trouble. However, if someone has your itinerary, and they haven’t heard from you in a while, they know your last known location, where you were going, and they know where to send help.

Another example: let’s say that you have a medical emergency, and someone knows that something is wrong. If you don’t share your itinerary with a loved one, and you don’t check in with them once you hit certain locations, then it could be a while before someone can send help to your location.

Always share your itinerary, and check in with, a parent, a close sibling, or a close friend. If the person really doesn’t care where you are, or when you will be there, it will be less likely that they notice if you don’t check in.

I suppose you COULD share your itinerary with your boss… No supervisor wants to worry about who is going to cover your shift if you don’t come back to work.

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3. If you are driving, make sure to inspect your vehicle before your trip

It is always a good idea to create a pre-road trip vehicle checklist before you leave for your destination, in order to help remove the variable of vehicle issues slowing you down. Nothing can ruin a trip like an overheating vehicle, low oil light, check engine light, or some other random light that NOBODY knows what it is for (not even the manufacturer).

During your pre-trip inspection, make sure to check your oil, get an oil change if you are due, check the transmission fluid, check your tires and tire pressure, check your brakes, check your windshield wipers, investigate any lights that may be illuminated on your dashboard cluster panel, and check to make sure you have a spare tire, tire iron, and a car jack (just in case you run over a nail or a sharp rock that can flatten your tire).

Most mechanic’s shops will do a pre-trip inspection for you at a relatively low cost ($10-$30), or even for free. And even more importantly? Having a pre-trip inspection done can save you HUNDREDS of dollars in the long run, and can help ensure that you have one less stressor on your trip.

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4. Always make sure that your cellular device is charged

Another point that I cannot stress enough: always make sure that your cell phone is charged, and operational, on your trip. An emergency situation is bad enough (such as injury, medical emergency, or worse), but not being able to contact help is even worse.

In the United States, Federal Law dictates that regardless of what cell phone towers you are close to, whether they are your carrier or not, all 9-1-1 calls must be dispatched to emergency services; this means that even if you don’t have cell phone service through your carrier, if there is a cell phone tower SOMEWHERE that can receive your signal, it must be passed on to a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Since I learned this little fact, I always laughed when, in horror movies, the victims tried to call for help, but couldn’t because they didn’t have cell phone service.

The only two cases in the United States that you won’t be able to reach emergency services is: A) you are in a cave, or some other structure that completely blocks your signal from ANY tower, or B) if your cell phone is dead. So, always keep your cell phone charged. Car chargers are a lifesaver, and if you are staying in a hotel, make sure to bring a regular wall charger as well.

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5. Always bring more money than you think you will need

According to Murphy’s Law (which, at times, seems to be the Law that dictates most of my life): “What can go wrong will go wrong.” It is always the best policy to be prepared for when Murphy’s Law takes the driver’s seat on your trip, and be prepared for the worst case scenario. I’m definitely not saying to bring an extra $50,000 on a $5,000 trip, but having some extra cash set aside is always a good idea.

Unforeseen circumstances can always arise; maybe you forgot something at home and have to go purchase a new one, or maybe you drive over a nail and have a flat tire, or maybe (on a less doom-and-gloom note) you see a really awesome souvenir in a local shop or gas station that you just can’t live without. In any case, it’s always a good idea to bring too much money than not enough.

As a general rule of thumb:

• If a trip costs $1-$150, bring an extra $100

• If a trip costs between $151-$600, bring an extra $150

• If a trip costs more than $500, bring an extra 25%-30% of the cost of the trip

In the worse case scenario, you have to spend your extra funds on inflated fuel costs or repairing a flat tire; however, in the best case scenario, in which nothing goes wrong, you have extra money set back for your next adventure.

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6. Keep your money separated and in different locations

Many financial advisers will tell you: “Don’t keep all of your money in one place.” If we take this piece of advice, and expand upon it, and elaborate it to our needs, it can be just as important in the world of travel, as it is in the world of finance.

Let’s say you somehow have a similar situation to the story above, where you keep all of your travel expense money in your glove compartment; and let’s say that someone breaks into your vehicle and raids your glove compartment. Now, you are stranded with no money. Furthermore, let’s say that you keep all of your money in your purse or wallet, and that you get robbed, or even more likely, “misplace” your wallet. By keeping your money spread in a couple of different secure location ins, you are ensuring that regardless of what happens, you aren’t left penniless and stranded.

When my wife and I travel, we only carry enough cash for venues that don’t accept credit cards (*gasp* yes, there are still venues that don’t accept credit cards); we each carry a credit card, to ensure that if one is lost or stolen, we still have another that works. Using multiple credit cards also helps keep your money spread, so that it “isn’t all in one place”, much like our financial advisors advised us to do.

Even though we prefer to use plastic over paper, we still keep some cash tucked away and hidden as an emergency fund while traveling… Just in case.

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7. Try to blend in with the locals

I always follow my own style, however, my style blends with what most communities see as normal. And, I know, this isn’t a fashion blog, so you are probably wondering: “What does the way I dress have to do with safety on a vacation or camping trip?” Well, the answer to your question is: The way you dress on your trip has A LOT to do with safety.

Surely you know that the way you dress, and the way you carry yourself, conveys to people different ideas about you (whether they are true or not).

If you are walking through a street fair while wearing a button-up shirt, tie, slacks, and leather shoes, street vendors may actually inflate their prices specifically for you. Why? Because you look like you have money. Also, the nicer you dress, the more likely you are to be targeted for a robbery or mugging. Again, why? Because you look like a better target with more money.

Now, let’s look at the opposite end of the spectrum, and say that you don’t want to be robbed, so you dress in the most bum-ish clothes possible. You should SIGNIFICANTLY decrease your chances of getting robbed, right? While this is true, you have also created other problems for yourself. If you are walking through a well-to-do community wearing bum-ish clothing, it tends to draw quite a bit of attention, and not the good kind. People have been mistaken as homeless and asked to leave stores or restaurants, stopped and questioned by the police, or even needed roadside assistance and been ignored because people were in fear of their own safety.

As a general rule of thumb, keep it simple, and dress at a happy medium. Dress in clean clothes that have no rips or tears, and remember: not too much, but not too little.

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8. Always bring a first aid kit

Keeping a first aid kit in the trunk of your car for emergencies is typically a good policy to follow, even if you aren’t going on vacation; however, there will be times that you will be alone and away from everyone else. There is always a possibility that you may fall, cut yourself, and need to stop the bleeding and clean a wound before you can go to have the injury fixed properly. There is always a bit of uncertainty when you are traveling, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad, so you always want to be prepared. It is for this reason, you should always carry a first aid kit in your vehicle.

A decent first aid kit should consist of the following items:

• Bandaids

• Clean Gauze Bandages

• Clean Gauze Wraps

• Triple Antibiotic Ointment

• Rubbing Alcohol Pads

• A small container of Hydrogen Peroxide

• Medical Tape

• An ACE Bandage (or two, if you are accident prone)

• A small pair of scissors

• Aspirin or Ibuprofen

Keeping a well stocked first aid kit is always a great idea. Hopefully you absolutely NEVER have to use it, but there is always a chance that you may need to, at some point in time.

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9. Purchase and carry pepper spray or a taser

One of the things I have learned in 7 years of working in law enforcement and security is this: people can be right down evil. Not all people, of course. There are still a lot of good people in the world. However, the actions of bad people can still be seen daily while watching the news, reading the newspapers, or even just walking down the street in your hometown. The sad fact of the matter is that ALL communities have some form of crime, whether it be robbery, burglary, assault, or worse…

In the event that you have to defend yourself while camping or on vacation, it is always a good idea to carry a small can of pepper spray or a taser. And please… PLEASE… Make sure you know how to use the defensive tool, and use it well. Make sure to only use it only if you are CERTAIN that your life or physical wellbeing is in danger. And always remember: your safety is more important than anything else.

Before traveling with said defensive item, make sure that you check the state’s law regarding a taser or pepper spray; while most states allow for their use, some states heavily regulate such items, even to travelers, and you don’t want to end up fined or in jail because you had to defend yourself.

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10. Always trust your gut instinct

Again, if my 7 years of working in law enforcement and security has taught me anything, it is to always trust your gut instinct. This safety tip is very cut-and-dried, short-and-sweet. Why? Because it is simple.

If you are going to a bar to unwind a bit while on vacation, and anything seems… “Off”... Turn around immediately, walk out, and find a place you feel more comfortable at. If you see a dark alleyway that is definitely a shortcut to your destination, but you feel uneasy about it, take the longer, well lit path. If you are traveling, and someone makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, try to get away from them as soon as possible.

We have our instincts for a reason, and the biggest injustice you can do to yourself is to ignore your gut feelings. There have been many cases where someone ended up following their gut feelings, and it ended up saving their lives.

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Now that we have covered our 10 Explorer Safety Tips, let’s retell the story that I told at the very beginning of this article…

EXCEPT…

Let’s retell the story so that it has a happier ending.

A woman is having relationship problems, and decides to get away from it all by going on a camping trip to a small lake town. While she wants to be left alone for the most part, she gives her best friend a paper itinerary, with her full route, and schedules times to check in with her friend.

On her way, she sees a road, that her friend had told her was an excellent short cut, but even though it's getting late, she wants to make sure she gets to her destination safely, and continues on her planned route.

The trip is going well so far, and the woman is very glad that she completed her pre-trip vehicle inspection before she left; she had a nail lodged in the front tire, and was able to get the tire repaired before she left. She sees a gas station up ahead, and decides she needs to stop to use the restroom.

Because she came prepared, and had an emergency fund set up, and there was no issues with her vehicle, she decided to spend about $20 on a figurine snow globe to take home to her friend, as a thanks for helping watch out for her. This $20 was insignificant to the trip, and wouldn’t cut into her emergency funds too much.

As she was standing at the register, a couple of teenagers wearing dirty bluejeans, t-shirts, and trucker hats saw her walk by, and continued to talk amongst themselves about their plans for the night; she didn’t look like an easy target to them, because she was dressed in about average clothing, and nothing too lavish or extravagant.

As the woman was walking back to her car, she realized something terrible: she had locked her keys in her vehicle. The man running the register offered to call a locksmith to open her door. The man stated that the locksmith would require payment up front, but that wasn’t a problem, because while the majority of her money was in her glove compartment, she still had enough money to pay the locksmith his fee kept on her person.

As she was waiting for the locksmith and updating her friend as to the situation on her fully charged cell phone, the two teenagers from inside the gas station walked by, looked in her car, and noticed her keys in the ignition. One of the teens scoffed, and called her a loser, before they walked back to her truck. She felt uneasy when they were around, so she kept her hand on her pepper spray can that was in her pocket. Luckily enough, she didn’t have to use it.

The locksmith arrived, collected his payment, and opened the woman’s door for her, but not without cutting his arm in the process. Once the door was open, she opened her trunk, retrieved her first aid kit, and cleaned and dressed the locksmith’s wound. He thanked her for her kindness, and returned the fee he collected earlier. She objected, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

She continued on to the campgrounds, and even though there was a bit of excitement at the gas station, she still had a great time, because she was fully prepared for anything that could have gone wrong.

I know… I know… The second story sounds significantly more boring than the first one did; however, it did end with a happier ending, and because she followed a list of safety tips she found from her favorite travel blog. 😉