Clothes that need to be dry cleaned may not be the best choice to bring camping because of rain, mud, sand and vegetation stains. The color of clothing is something to consider. Wasps and bees have a natural attraction to yellow and white. Wearing outerwear in these colors can fool these flying and stinging insects into thinking you are a flower. Thin-soled shoes are a bad idea because you may step on something sharp and hurt your foot or slip on wet surfaces.
Like yellow and white clothing, bees and wasps find scented products like perfume or scented shampoos and hand lotion irresistible. U.S. killer bees are the dominant type of bees in the southern and western states and attracting and annoying the bees can cause attacks.
Stoves on thin legs and propane-fueled deep fryers can be dangerous when camping. Although the same hazards are present at home, medical help may be farther away when camping, making the injury more serious. Knocking over a charcoal grill can start fires. The safest stoves are those that sit on tables or rest close to the ground. Leave thin glassware at home because it can shatter into many pieces, potentially causing injuries.
Many states have laws that prohibit campers from using firewood brought from home. States may also require campers to show a certificate or receipt demonstrating that the firewood was purchased locally from a licensed seller. Restricting the transportation of firewood reduces the spread of diseases and insects that can eventually cause a great deal of damage in forests. It may take years to see damage caused from insects or viral diseases and once the damage occurs, it may be irreversible.
