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Four Safety Tips for Enjoying a Safe Camping Trip

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작성자 Wassup 작성일 25-11-16 21:30 조회 8 댓글 0

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Four Safety Tips for Enjoying a Safe Camping Trip!

May, with its bright skies and warm sunshine, is the perfect time to plan new outdoor activities with your family. Among these, camping is a particularly popular choice. While campsites offer a space for parents and children to enjoy nature and create new memories together, they also pose risks of various safety accidents. According to the Korea Consumer Agency, there have been a total of 409 safety accidents at campsites in the past five years, occurring steadily each year. Notably, children under the age of 13 account for 61% of all safety accidents, making it crucial for visitors with young children to exercise extra caution.

Beware of Burns: The Most Common Camping Accident!

Among the various camping safety accidents, burns are the most prevalent. Burns refer to skin damage caused by flames, hot liquids, sparks, chemicals, electricity, etc., and in severe cases, can destroy the underlying tissues of the skin. Burns are classified into first, second, third, and fourth-degree burns depending on the extent of skin damage.

▶ First-degree burns: Most sunburns fall into this category, characterized by redness and pain without blisters. The skin typically recovers without scarring within a few days, but may leave skin discoloration that lasts for several months.

▶ Second-degree burns: Usually involve blisters, swelling of subcutaneous tissues, and severe pain. If not infected, they heal with minor scarring in about 2 to 4 weeks. However, infection or delayed treatment can result in significant scarring.

▶ Third-degree burns: The skin becomes dry like leather and changes to a waxy white or dark color. There is a loss of skin sensation, making it painless even when pricked with a pin. The affected area appears sunken compared to surrounding tissues, and surgery is often required to remove necrotic tissue and reconstruct the lost skin.

▶ Fourth-degree burns: Damage extends through all layers of the skin, including subcutaneous muscles, tendons, nerves, or even bone tissue.

Burn treatment varies depending on the severity and type of burn. For first and second-degree burns, immediately immerse the affected area in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes or rinse with plenty of running water. Avoid using ice packs, as they can lower body temperature and increase the risk of further skin damage. It is best to carefully drain blisters on burned skin with a sterilized needle, but leave them intact if a sterile needle is not available. The skin covering the blister acts as a natural protective barrier, preventing infection and aiding skin regeneration, so do not remove it. Lightly protect the burned area with a non-adhesive dressing.

For arm or leg burns, keep the injured area elevated above the heart, if comfortable for the patient, to prevent swelling and alleviate symptoms. Also, use coats or blankets to prevent body temperature from dropping.

Extensive second-degree burns and any third-degree or higher burns require immediate hospital visit. In addition to local treatment, systemic electrolyte and protein regulation, as well as prevention and treatment for shock and systemic infections, are necessary. Antibiotics and painkillers may be required, and in some cases, tetanus immunoglobulin or antitoxin treatment, or surgery may be needed.

Be Cautious of Fractures and Growth Plate Injuries in Children Playing at Campsites!

Campsites are dangerous environments for children unfamiliar with nature. Uneven terrain filled with tree roots and stones, slippery grass, and tent ropes or camping equipment can cause falls and fractures. It is important to note that these injuries can be accompanied by growth plate damage.

Approximately 20% of pediatric fracture patients experience growth plate injuries, which can occur from any trauma involving falls. Children's bones are more flexible and have thicker periosteum compared to adults, so fractures may not be outwardly visible. Although symptoms or bone displacement may not seem severe, neglecting growth plate injuries can lead to bone twisting, misalignment, severe deformities, and growth disturbances as the child grows.

It is crucial to approach pediatric fractures differently from adult fractures and provide appropriate treatment. Children have better fracture healing and remodeling abilities than adults, so surgery or repeated closed reduction in the same manner as adults can lead to growth disturbances. When a fracture occurs, carefully observe the child's symptoms.

If a child falls or is hit and complains of severe pain or has difficulty moving, even if there are no visible signs of injury, immobilize the affected area with a splint and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Adults may experience pain from bruises for up to two weeks, but if a child experiences pain for more than 3 to 4 days, it is likely more than just a simple bruise. Additionally, because the growth plate, made of cartilage, is not easily visible on X-rays, it is best to consult a pediatric orthopedic specialist for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.

The most basic and important way to prevent growth plate injuries is to ensure sufficient warm-up exercises before physical activity. Sudden movements can strain muscles and joints, so it is best to stretch or do light exercises for at least 10 minutes to warm up the body. In particular, it is necessary to educate children about the importance of warm-up exercises and encourage them to practice them before engaging in strenuous activities commonly enjoyed at campsites, such as soccer, catch, and badminton.

Beware of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) Transmitted by Mites, Which Ruins the Romance of Camping!

Outdoor spaces where you can enjoy nature, such as campsites, pose a risk of small ticks, also known as "killer ticks." Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), transmitted by small ticks, is a third-class notifiable infectious disease first identified in China in 2011. It is primarily transmitted when SFTS virus-infected small ticks bite humans, and can also be transmitted to others through the blood of infected individuals. Ticks are most active from spring to fall, and the risk of contact with ticks is increasing nationwide due to rising temperatures caused by global warming.

Symptoms begin to appear after an incubation period of about 1 to 2 weeks after being bitten by a small tick. Initially, a fever of 40 degrees Celsius or higher develops for no apparent reason, along with flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Headaches and muscle pain may occur, and lymph nodes may swell. In severe cases, shortness of breath and decreased consciousness may occur, leading to a decrease in platelets and white blood cells, causing multiple organ failure and potentially death.

SFTS has a mortality rate of about 20%, but its risk is further highlighted by the lack of vaccines or fundamental treatments to date. Symptomatic treatment, which only alleviates symptoms, is mainly used because treatment methods have not been standardized. Experimental treatments such as plasma exchange, which removes plasma and injects supplementary fluid, and convalescent serum infusion, which injects serum from healthy people into the patient's body, are also being attempted.

To avoid being bitten by small ticks when camping or hiking with family, take preventive measures in advance. Minimize skin exposure and avoid direct contact between grass and skin, and do not leave clothes on the grass. Wash clothes thoroughly immediately after returning home from outdoor activities, and check your body for ticks while showering. If you find a tick attached to your skin, do not try to pull it off with force, as its proboscis may have penetrated the skin. Seek medical attention immediately.

Beware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The Threat of Carbon Monoxide Approaching While You Sleep!

Carbon monoxide poisoning is commonly known to occur frequently in winter, but it is a fatal condition that also occurs frequently in spring, when the daily temperature range is large, so special care must be taken. Campers may be poisoned by carbon monoxide when using heating devices, braziers (remaining firewood, charcoal, briquettes, etc.), or cooking with butane gas or burners in enclosed tents on nights when the temperature drops sharply.

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced by incomplete combustion. It is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect in advance, and it spreads quickly, requiring extra caution. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, and eventually death.

When carbon monoxide enters the body through the respiratory system, it binds to hemoglobin, which supplies oxygen to tissues, interfering with oxygen transport. Oxygen is not properly delivered to tissues, causing hypoxia and internal suffocation. Carbon monoxide also causes an inflammatory response in the brain, leading to delayed neurological sequelae weeks after complete recovery from acute poisoning.

Placing leftover charcoal or briquettes in an enclosed space such as a tent can rapidly increase the concentration of carbon monoxide, even in small amounts, threatening life. Leaving a brazier with burning charcoal or briquettes outside the tent is also dangerous, as smoke can seep into the tent and cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may vary depending on the severity of the poisoning.

▶ Mild: Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc.

▶ Moderate: Drowsiness, immobility, impaired judgment, loss of consciousness, seizures, difficulty breathing, hypotension

▶ Severe: Loss of consciousness, myocardial infarction, respiratory failure, death

If you experience nausea, headache, dizziness, or other symptoms while sleeping or resting in a tent, suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. In severe cases, it can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, etc., and may leave neurological sequelae even after recovery. If you suspect symptoms, immediately exit the tent and breathe fresh air, then call 119 immediately and visit a nearby emergency room to be diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning and receive appropriate treatment such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Prevention is the best way to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, so be aware of the risks and follow safety rules to ensure a fun and safe camping trip. After starting a fire at the campsite, extinguish it completely and ventilate the inside of the tent. It is also a good idea to carry a portable carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide rises due to buoyancy, so it is best to install it at the top of the tent. If using electric blankets or electric heaters, be sure to secure ventilation and ventilate regularly.