10 Safe Geocaching Tips – a GPS Treasure Hunt for the Whole Family

Geocaching is a GPS treasure hunt that is a lot of fun. Aside from the gas money there are few costs associated with the hobby. And if you find a lot in a general area, such as along a bike trail or large public park, then it only costs the energy you use to bicycle or walk there.

Staying Safe while Geocaching

Because the hobby does take place outdoors there is always the element of risk. Inspired by an article on another geocaching website, here are ten tips based on the geocaching experiences that either happened to me or happened to some of my geocaching buddies.

10. Be wildlife aware. If you read the logs for a geocache site and other people talk about seeing snakes, raccoons, bears, and other wildlife, then there is a chance that you might see them also. Use common sense and stay away from wild animals, no matter how friendly they seem.

9. Obey the police. Sadly the police sometimes ask you to leave an area when you are looking for a geocache container. This could be because someone placed it on private property, or because they have just not heard of it before. Regardless of why they are asking you to leave, just do it.

8. Have spare batteries. Nothing stinks worse than having your battery-operated GPS die in the middle of locating a container. Or having your flashlight batteries die when you geocached so long that you are bumbling and stumbling along in the dusky twilight (if not total darkness) trying to find your car.

7. Carry essential supplies. Along with a flashlight, GPS, and cellphone you may want to take gloves, a Swiss army knife, and a walking stick. The more geocaching experience you get, the bigger your list of essential supplies will grow.

6. Bring first aid stuff. My husband is a firefighter, so we have a first aid kit in each vehicle as well as one in the house. At the very least you should have wet wipes, bandages, and some bug spray. Check the second below this list to learn about the ideal geocaching first aid kit.

5. Have a way to communicate. Don’t go geocaching alone. Make sure you and your partner both have a phone in case you are separated. You can take walkie-talkies as a backup. Sometimes one electronic communication device will work in an area where another has failed.

4. Use sunscreen year round. The winter sun does just as much damage to your skin, lips, eyes, and scalp as the summer sun does, especially if it glares off a snow covered landscape. Long sleeves and a jacket are not a bad idea, either because you never know where geocaching will lead you.

3. Check for ticks. So far this year, I am the only person in the family who has found a tick on themselves, and I never would have if it were not for geocaching. While I do not relish the thought of having a tick, it was the first time I have had one in years and a sign that I am more active than in summers past.

2. Stay hydrated. Some geocache containers require you to get out of your car and walk a few feet. Others require you to rappel down rocks, dive into caves, or kayak upstream for half a mile. Keep a bottle of water with you regardless of the season or weather.

1. Know when enough is enough. I hate marking an online log with a DNF (Did Not Find) status. I want to find every container at ever geocache site that I visit! But sometimes no matter how hard we look the container is just not there. If it does not seem like a safe situation, then it is time to back off and move on.

The Best First Aid Kit for Geocaching

Because my husband is a firefighter, our first aid kits keep us prepared for just about anything. The closet that I have been able to find is the American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for sale on Amazon.

About the size of a 3-ring binder, it has plastic pages that hold all the products. It is super organized and everything is individually wrapped so even if you open a plastic page to take one item out, everything else is still sterile. It literally has whatever you need for almost any geocaching emergency, including getting lost in the woods.

You can go geocaching without a lot of things, but a first aid kit shouldn’t be one of the things you lack when taking the family on a GPS treasure hunt. Click the picture of the first aid kit above to learn how to invest in a American Red Cross Disaster & Emergency Kit by First Aid Only for your family now!