Article by Coast Portland
Campers must be vigilant about doing everything they can to practice excellent hygiene while out in the woods. Being isolated from society is no excuse for poor sanitation, and dangerous diseases are more likely to be contracted in the wild, where it's more challenging to find clean water. Follow these five sanitation and safety tips the next time you are camping. 1. Do not eat food using camping knives that have served non-food purposes.Pack a minimum of two camping knives when possible, one for food and the other for the miscellaneous tasks where a knife may be needed i.e. trimming limbs, marking trees, cutting rope, etc. Hunters should be sure to never eat using a camping knife that has been used to dress game. Also, plan to clean plates, knives and any other utensils as soon as you are done using them. This will reduce the risk of spreading deadly germs.2. Purify water before drinking, cleaning. Remember that streams and lakes often contain parasites and bacteria. Giardia is an especially prevalent parasite in backcountry water that can cause dehydration and nutritional loss. It is deposited when cows and other game defecate and urinate near water sources. A camping knife that has been washed with untreated, unfiltered backcountry water may carry the Giardia parasite. Purify all water before using it for cleaning as well as drinking. Water can be purified using a water filtration system, iodine water purification kits, or through sufficient boiling. 3. Wash hands frequently. Two studies conducted in the 1990s found that most indigestion among campers is caused by poor hygiene practices. Unwashed hands are the main culprit; they may carry germs picked up anywhere along the trail. Wash your hands frequently while camping, using soap and water or antiseptic gel. Unwashed hands may easily spread disease to camping knives and other eating utensils.4. Clean camping knives with biodegradable soap. All campers should adhere to the "leave no trace" rule; they should pack out everything that they pack in and return their camp sites to the same condition that they found it. A less widely appreciated eco-friendly camping practice is to clean camping knives, plates and even hands and faces using biodegradable soap. Non-biodegradable soap fosters the growth of algae and bacteria, throwing off the balance in delicate backcountry ecosystems. A much safer and ecologically friendly practice is to wash dishes with biodegradable soap and stay at least 200 feet away water sources. This will give the water enough time to filter through soil before it rejoins the watershed. Avoid washing dishes directly in streams or lakes.5. Store camping knives and other utensils in clean plastic bags.After you've carefully cleaned a camping knife or other utensil, it's important to protect it. Store clean, dry utensils including camping knives in clean, sealable plastic bags. Good camping hygiene requires that you carefully clean water, regularly wash hands and utensils, and take precautions to avoid contaminating the environment. By following these sanitation tips, you can prevent yourself, your family and your friends from becoming infected while camping.