CAMPING CAN BE THE DEATH OF YOU…. IF YOU’RE NOT CAREFUL

As more and more people turn to the seemingly harmless and enjoyable lifestyle of touring and camping within Australia, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people being killed or injured

Almost daily we see media reports of people being drowned, crushed, burnt, gassed, falling off cliffs, bitten by snakes, sharks and crocodiles, stung by marine creatures, being struck by lightning, dying of thirst in the desert and for stark contrast being frozen to death in the southern alps.

Now of course those sorts of things never happen to members of the Mitsubishi Club because our members are experienced and because we always adhere to the Club Rules and exercise our Duty of Care. About he only problems our members seem to encounter is a bit of sunburn, a few insect bights, a mild tummy upset and perhaps a  hangover. On the very rare occasion when someone has been injured on a Club trip it is because the Club rules have not been adhered to. …end of story!

Virtually all the camping injuries and deaths that occur in Australia are due to inexperience and lack of local knowledge although sheer stupidity and alcohol are also major contributing factors. Very few of the incidents could be called “accidents” or “bad luck”.

A few  years ago a young family of six were camping with a church group in the middle of winter. Being a bitterly cold night they left a kerosene heater burning in their tightly closed tent for warmth. The next morning around 11am when others checked on them because they were concerned that no one was up and about, they were all dead. It was a terrible tragedy due solely to inexperienced people being totally unaware of the dangers. 

Two years ago two little girls were killed when a large branch fell on their tent and crushed them to death. No doubt their parents thought that the big gum tree would be a nice shady spot to set up camp but all gum trees have a tendency to shed branches without warning. Whilst shade does make for pleasant camping it is silly to set up under big trees with heavy branches. Low trees and bushy shrubs are far safer because high trees are susceptible to strong winds and swaying.

Some large trees look sturdy but may have been hollowed out by termites, others have shallow root systems which can weaken in heavy rain and wind. People new to camping should always seek local knowledge from park rangers and campsite managers before setting up camp.

Not so long ago a group of people in a van decided the creek beside the Charlie Moreland Overflow area where we hold our Christmas party would be a great spot to camp. Well that night it rained and the resulting flash flood swept their van a kilometer or two down the creek and the body of one of them was found several kilometers further downstream. It may not even be raining where you are but creeks can flood from rainfall many kilometers away which is why experienced campers never set up camp in creek bed.

And experience is no guarantee of safety because a couple of years ago one of our most experienced members had a very anxious night when camping at the Innaminka Common. He woke during the night to find water swirling around his car from a flash flood in the creek. Luckily he had a rooftop camper and the water went down fairly quickly but he says it was quite frightening and an experience he wouldn’t want to repeat.  

Not far from the Amamoor camp grounds where we held our Corroboree a large group of people set up camp in long dry grass on private property. Next morning they headed off for a drive believing they had extinguished their fire but a strong wind soon re-ignited it and they returned to find all their tents, campers and equipment had been reduced to ashes.

It has been reported that there has been a 100% increase in children being burnt by campfires in the last year and of that figure 73% has been caused by hot coals rather than open campfires. Extinguishing a fire with sand is very dangerous and can result in severe burns many hours after the fire is thought to be out. The only reliable method of extinguishing a campfire is with water.

Early this year a young father was tragically drowned trying to rescue his daughters who had been swept into a deep hole in the upper Brisbane River whilst enjoying a family camping holiday. Neither children nor parents should swim anywhere be it in creeks, dams or beaches where there is possibility that people could get into difficulties. And of course young people diving into creeks and waterholes or clambering around cliffs after a few drinks is just asking for trouble.

A recent newspaper  report warned of the dangers of death adders on Fraser Island. Whilst most other snakes will slither quietly out of your way these deadly little buggers stay put in the belief they can’t be seen, and mostly the can’t, so it is wise to wear boots and long trousers in snake country. A few years ago on a Club trip to Johns Landing one of members nearly died of fright when she went to bed and found a not very friendly red-bellied black snake curled up in her sleeping bag. So to keep out the nasties keep the insect screen on your tent or camper tightly closed at all times and if you wander around at night in bare feet there is the very real chance that you will stand in, or on, something you may not like.

Other warnings from Park Rangers include; be careful when chopping wood with an axe, keep your tent site tidy so that people won’t trip over things, don’t leave food scraps to attract unwanted visitors, don’t feed the wildlife especially dingos, don’t clamber around wet or mossy rocks at the top of gorges or falls, don’t dive into creeks, shelter in your car during severe storms and lightning and take notice of all warning signs, they’re not there just to keep sign writers employed!

But it seems that people are their own worst enemies because whilst they are aware of the dangers and read the  signs warning of stingers, rips, crocodiles, dangerous cliffs, the need to take plenty of water on desert trips etc,  for whatever reason they ignore them probably thinking “it won’t happen to me”.

Well it does!

But of course as I said at the beginning it does not affect our Mitsubishi Club members because not only are we experienced campers we follow our Club rules and Duty of Care requirements when on camping trips. 

So continue to enjoy safe Mitsubishi touring and camping trips.

Kampers Kitchen

Last Modified on Wednesday, 06 May 2009
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