Water is essential when living in a camper. Water is not only used for personal hygiene, but for cooking and making the occasional hot cup of cocoa or coffee. Drinking a half-gallon of water each day is recommended, and at high temperatures, the loss of body fluids can cause health complications. Carry water with you, or purify it from a lake or stream. Camping websites and stores sell purification tablets and packs. Water retrieved from natural sources such as rivers, lakes and streams can be boiled for a minimum of three minutes to kill most germs. Many campsites provide access to safe drinking water.
An energy supply is important for cooking, heating and lighting. It is possible to barbecue every day outside the camper and even boil water on an open fire, but a portable gas bottle can be used to fuel a stove and a portable generator can produce reliable electricity. Many camping sites provide an electric supply for a small daily fee.
Doctors and hospitals can be far away from your campsite. Accidents happen, big and small, and a first aid kit may come in handy, especially to keep infections away from cuts and scrapes. A first aid kit can be purchased from any pharmacy.
A flashlight is handy when the power supply fails in the middle of the night. There are solar power, wind-up, and battery operated flashlights available. Consider a rechargeable, solar-powered flashlight to save money on batteries.
