How To Safely Sleep In The Tent While Camping

Beginners often wonder whether it is safe to sleep in tents during camping. 

After all, we all have stories of bad weather conditions, campsite safety, threats from wild animals, and medical emergencies. 

In general, it is safe to sleep in a tent. Camping is a bit riskier experience than just sitting at home, but there is nothing to worry about. 

You can safely sleep in the tent while camping by planning properly, taking precautions for animals, storing food correctly, pitching the tent at the correct spot, preparing for bad weather, staying away from sketchy areas, and going with some company.

All of them may sound a bit mouthful. Some simple steps will generally solve these problems. 

Let’s look at them in detail.

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• How To Camp For Beginners
• How To Safely Go Car Camping
• 7 Most Important Rules Of Camping

1. Take Inspiration From Regular Campers

When you are a beginner at camping and are scared about sleeping in a tent, you should probably look around at the people who camp every year or even alternate months around the world. 

Very few are in danger while sleeping in tents during their camping trip. The number of campers bothered by any human moron or dangerous animals is not even a handful.

So trust your gut and head camping. 

Though there is significantly less danger, it is always prudent to be prepared and take precautions. Such as:

• Choose your camping site wisely and after a good research
• Keep an eye on the surrounded wildlife
• If you are a beginner, start camping in a friendly area
• Do proper planning

Most campsites have family-friendly campers. None will hesitate to help you if you are in trouble. In all probability, you won’t find any issues while sleeping in your tent. 

2. Tent Camping Safety While In Wilderness

Most of the camping sites are wild animal prone. So would your tent protect you from them?

You will have to be extra cautious while camping in an area where animals are rampant. Tent usually does not provide physical protection against such situations. 

The thing which attracts most of the animals is the smell of your food items. Especially bears smell the food items quickly and from miles. 

• So make sure you do not keep food uncovered inside your tents. 
• Always pack your food items inside the containers so that smell does not spread in the environment and attract the animals
• If a bear is around, stay away from that place and be safe. 
• Keep protection gears such as bear sprays and firearms to use in an emergency.

3. Pitching Your Tent In The Right Location

Camping in the wrong location and incorrectly pitching your tent is the most common danger for any camper.

A tent does not have a solid boundary between you and the outside world. So the only way to stay safe in your tent is to be prudent while setting up your tent.

You should not set the tents near:

• Big trees
• Areas prone to landslides
• Water bodies
• Dead branches 
• Areas prone to flood and other natural disasters 
• Low lying area
• Near dried river points 
• High altitudes of a mountain etc.

While pitching the tent, consider the proximity of any wild animals also. Campsites may have small creatures and animals that can harm you while sleeping in the tent.

4. Storing The Food

Food smell is the thing which will attract most of the animals near your tent. So, be very careful while carrying and storing your food while tent camping. 

• Avoid bringing food inside your tent
• Always store the food items in closed-packed containers
• Avoid cooking the food near your tent. Always set up the cooking area a bit away

Campers who travel in their cars have a benefit. They can safely store food in lockers and put them in their vehicle. 

Even several legal camping grounds do not allow you to cook food near the campsite. It is a safety measure against animal attacks in the camp area.

So check the guidelines before you head to the particular camping site.

5. Always Keep Your Tent Closed

Always keep your tent closed regardless of whether you are outside or inside the tent. 

It is a bit challenging to keep your tent closed during high temperatures. However, doing this will invite a variety of creatures and insects inside your tent.

Mosquitoes, spiders, ants, and even snakes may make their way inside your tent. And this will not be a friendly environment in the tent for you.

However, you will require small slits in your tent for ventilation.

Tent manufacturers make them such that air gets exchanged, but small insects find it hard to get in through them. 

6. Managing The Weather

Sleeping in tents during your camping trip can be very challenging if you do not plan and prepare for the climatic conditions.

Every condition be it warm, cold, moisture or rain, are equally uncomfortable and may even make you sick. 

A wet tent is not a comfortable and safe place to sleep in. waking up in a damp tent can be irritating and a mood spoiler.

The main reason your tent gets wet without rainfall is because of condensation. When you sleep in a closed tent, your body exhales moisture with every breath of yours.

This moisture gets collected in your tent, and the tent gets moist. To avoid this situation, use the following tips:

• Use electric heater
• Avoid gas heaters
• Add portable fan
• Do not cook your food inside the tent
• If possible, set up a bit bigger tent
• Use the rain-fly
• Open vents inside your tent
• Open the mesh-screen windows

Extremely hot and cold climates can also be equally dangerous to your health. So do proper research on the weather and backpacking accordingly. 

Always carry insulation and extra blankets to stay warm. If you can not bring heaters, think of keeping yourself warm rather than keeping your tent warm. 

For the hot weather, carrying a portable fan is the best option. Additionally, proper ventilation keeps the tent cool.

7. Danger From The Fire

Whether tent camping or simply chilling in your home, carefully handling fire is vital to stay safe. Fire can cause some serious damage to human life. 

So, follow fire safety if you want to enjoy a campfire while camping. 

Always completely extinguish the fire before going to bed. Never leave the campfire unattended.

Generally, an ember is enough to set your tent on fire. So put off the fire by pouring water. 

Avoid doing anything related to fire inside your tent. Such as do not use camp stoves and avoid gas heaters. 

8. Avoid Crime-Prone Areas

Avoiding random crime spots is a smart move to stay safe while camping. 

• Avoid sleeping randomly on the roadside or in unprotected areas. 
• Do not pitch your tent close to the main road but far away from the road so that any random person walking by can not spot your tent. This alone will reduce the chances of any crime opportunity around your tent. 
• Check the crime maps of the area where you are setting your tent.
• If the area has a high crime rate, avoid setting your tent in nearby areas. 

9. Avoid Unnecessary Fights

While in an unknown environment and among strangers, be careful with your words and action.

Do not pick up unnecessary fights with your fellow campers. You never know when a drunk idiot decides to take revenge and attack your tent while sleeping. 

Avoid confrontation, and if necessary, even leave that place because safety is the utmost priority. 

10. Be With Some Company

When you are a beginner and new to camping life, avoid going on solo camping. Being with your friends, family, or even a pet will make you feel safer sleeping in the tent. 

A companion will mitigate a lot of danger and help you in an emergency. 

Additionally, you will also be able to enjoy more with family, friends, or a dog.

Dogs are excellent camping partners. They can alert you of dangers beforehand that humans can not recognize. 

The Bottom Line

The first barrier to safety is psychological. The dangers are few and far between. 

However, if you plan properly, take precautions for animals, store food correctly, pitch the tent at the correct spot, prepare for bad weather, stay away from sketchy areas, and go with some company, you can mitigate most of the risks and safely sleep in the tent while camping.

Happy Camping!