Archives for March 2020

How To Camp Safely – 8 Things You Should Know

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Article Author: Harsh Paul from www.deepbluemountain.com

Staying safe while camping is a top priority. Most people assume this safety to be dependent on risks like animal attacks. True, that one is a concern, but the real danger is much more mundane.

The threat to your safety might come from being poorly prepared for your trip outdoors. It’s not bears you should worry about, it’s basic safety and preparedness. Here are some tips for better safety while camping

1. Practice Campfire Safety

Who doesn’t enjoy a good campfire while in the outdoors? A majority of campsites offer fire pits or similar amenities to get the campfire going. Whether it’s a campsite with a fire pit, or if you’re making your own campfire, keep safety first.

The fire should be a safe distance away from your tent and other belongings. Also, keep it away from bushes, trees, and any other potentially flammable item. No fire should be left unattended and make it a point to always have a bucket of water at hand.

2. Know The Weather And Temperature

Being prepared for the weather is the way to safety. It’s not just extreme conditions that a camper should worry about. Even small changes in weather can greatly influence a campsite and campers.

A small drizzle after a pleasant day can bring on a cold night. Knowing tricks to keep warm and how to insulate your tent could very well be lifesavers. The gear and camping experience shouldn’t just be about the expected weather and temperature. Give equal attention to potential swings in temperature.

If your campsite has the potential to go very cold, make sure you have a suitable sleeping bag and clothing. Remember, whether it’s the rain, cold, or any other weather situation, it’s always better to be over-prepared than being under-prepared.

3. Choosing The Right Tent, Shelter, And Spot

The choice of a camping location should keep your safety in mind. Considerations for your age, experience, and camping preference are important. Amenities will vary depending on whether you’re getting a cabin or taking along an RV or tent. So, plan your gear to your convenience and choice of shelter.

Amenities available at the campground should also be considered. When you pitch a tent, look around to make sure it is the right spot. Ideally, you want it at a place that has at least some protection from wind. Shaded locations might be better, but choose a spot that will stay out of water drainage in case of rain.

Since you’re in the great outdoors, look around to see that the campsite is safe. Take a look at the surroundings to check for telltale problem signs.

If you see any wasp nest, hive, or similar spots, it’s obviously not the place to set up camp. Check for poisonous plants like poison ivy or poison sumac. Also steer clear of locations with berries, animals like bears might use the spot to forage.

4. Prepare Your Food And Water

Carry generous food and water supply along for your trip. Again, being over-prepared is better than being under-prepared. Staying hydrated is very important and you will need water for food as well. Make sure you have enough!

It might be necessary to carry a water-filtration system so potable water supply is available. Similarly, don’t keep food with the view of rationing enough to last the trip. Carry extra to account for any mishaps.

Proper storage of food and water is necessary. Your tent should not have any food crumbs or waste on the floor. That’s just an invitation to critters. Rodents might even chew through the tent to get that tiny crumb off the floor. Carry along bear canisters or similar protective gear, and where possible, keep the food out of the tent at a safe location away from animals.

5. Safety From Insects

Staying safe from insects is a necessity. Carry along an insect repellent that doesn’t dissolve in water easily. Spray the tent walls, mesh windows, etc. to keep mosquitoes and other critters out. You may even consider getting a mosquito net to sleep comfortably.

The other problem is ticks. Check your body and clothes regularly to ensure there are no ticks – don’t spare a single spot. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants can offer some protection. However, it’s always better that you check your body as well. Light-colored clothing can be pretty useful in spotting ticks more quickly.

6. Stay Protected From The Sun

Protection from heatstroke, sunstroke, sunburns, or just regular UV-ray protection. Ensure you are ready and prepared to deal with the sun. Carry along a quality sunscreen to keep you protected from the sun’s rays. This applies even if you’re camping somewhere cold. Doubly so, if there’s snow.

7. Have A First Aid Kit And Medical Necessities

Always keep a first aid kit with you and keep it handy. This kit should include things like bandages and necessary medication. If you or someone in your group have medications prescribed for them, make it a point to put them in the first aid kit.

It is fruitful to treat your vacation as more than a simple outing, especially if you plan to spend several days. Similarly, if you’re traveling a long distance, treat it like you would plan a responsible vacation. Camping insurance can help deal with the financial strain of health or other problems occurring during a camping trip.

8. Don’t Forget Technology

Modern life is intricately connected and very dependent on technology. Camping is a good place to give our technology addiction a rest and stay away from mobile phones and tablets. However, technology as a tool for camping safety should not be ignored.

Don’t completely quit your phone and other gadgets. Services like maps, GPS, etc. can be lifesavers in several situations. For some more exquisite locations, consider more specific locations like GPS pointers, GPS beacons, satellite phones, etc. These things can be a lifesaver especially in circumstances where the campers are lost or cannot be contacted.

Remember the classic and age-old techniques as well. Learning to read a topographic map is extremely useful. They’re easily available and often have more information than what a GPS can deliver. Similarly, someone who’s not with you on the trip should know your schedule and expect contact from you. If this person doesn’t hear from you, they should be prepared to call authorities for help.

 

This article has been provided by Harsh Paul

My name is Harsh Paul. I am an enthusiastic blogger writer at deepbluemountain.com and my main field of writing is camping & hiking. This lifestyle inspires me to write articles about it with great enjoyment.

Cyber Security, How To Stay Safe

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With the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, many individuals may find themselves out of work or working remotely and from home during the time of restricted quarantine. If you are currently working from home or if you are the owner of a business that is responsible for remote employees, it is important to stay safe from potential scams and malware online by learning more about cyber security and why it matters. When you are aware of various scams, viruses, and malware issues online, it is much easier to protect yourself and the information you are sharing between employees, co-workers, or anyone else involved in your business and income.

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How to Stay Safe Online

Staying safe online is possible by taking precautions and learning more about current scam rings and potential issues that may arise while attempting to make purchases and access highly sensitive information. If you are an individual who is using the internet to work from home, consider the following tips to enhance your own cyber security when you are working or using the internet during a time of crisis:

  • Choose strong passwords that are difficult to guess and that have no relation to your own personal life, your birthday, your children, or even your extended family
  • Install and update your current anti-virus software on your computer in addition to implementing a firewall whenever you browse online
    Only use websites with SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer icons in the upper left hand corner of the URL bar, which appears as a locked icon to indicate a secure connection
  • Avoid shopping on websites that are not verified or well-known, especially if you are unfamiliar with browsing the web. Always use websites that are secured, safe, and trusted by others you know to minimize the risk of being hacked or becoming a target of online thieves.

If you are the owner of a business, there are a few additional steps and guidelines to keep in mind and consider to ensure the protection of your employees as well as the data and information you have stored for your business and customers, such as:

  • Install a new firewall and anti-virus program on all of your computers and the computers your employees use
  • Keep your firewall updated at all times, especially as new exploits and scams become more prevalent
  • Host training sessions with all of your employees to reinforce browsing guidelines and ways that they can protect themselves whenever they are online or using your company’s computers
  • Store, download, and backup user and customer data as often as possible to prevent deletion or hacking of the sensitive information you collect from users, employees, and customers of your own
  • Implement multi-factor authentication solutions to add an additional layer of security and protection to all of your electronic and internet devices along with all of your employees and remote workers. Multi-factor authentication will ensure even more security for those who are working from home, regardless of their position and the type of sensitive information they are responsible for even when they are not in the office.
  • Web and spam filters can also provide you with more control over the type of websites and content that can be accessed online with the use of your computers by employees and remote workers.

How to Identify if You’ve Already Fallen Victim to a Scam

Knowing how to identify if you have already fallen victim to a scam is extremely beneficial, especially when there is money or personal and sensitive information at risk. If you notice that your account is logged out or that changes to your name, email address, phone number, or other personal details have been changed with an online account of yours, your account may be compromised.

You may also find emails that request a change to your password or a password reset, which is an indicator that another individual, hacker, or bot is attempting to access your account and update the information with their own.

If any of your online accounts or bank accounts are used when you are working or whenever you are online, it is important to keep an eye on your bank account itself. Many hackers and online thieves today target both credit cards as well as bank account numbers to steal directly from an individual’s personal or business bank account.

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed or Hacked

If you have fallen victim to a cyber scam, it is important to avoid panicking and instead, begin gathering as much relevant information as possible as it pertains to the scam or scammer you have encountered yourself. Consider how you have been scammed before attempting to rectify the situation. If your bank account or credit card account has been hacked, contact your banking institution or card provider immediately and directly to freeze your card and to file an official fraud report. Most often, banks and credit card providers are willing to work with those who have been scammed to get your money and funds back into your account.

Update and change all of your passwords any time you have been hacked or breached, even if the account and password differ from the account entered. Always use passwords that contain special characters and passwords that have no relation to your everyday life. Update and install new firewalls and anti-virus software for your entire business or your personal computers. Always keep your virus software updated automatically to ensure that you are maximizing your protection any time you are browsing online.

Decreasing cyber liability as a business owner or even as an entrepreneur is essential to mitigate the risks of having your personal or financial data exposed to the world or a group fo online hackers. By taking the proper steps to increase your own cyber security online, drastically decrease your risk of cyber liability and falling victim to any form of scam, especially during a time of need with the Covid-19 outbreak.