With the Easter long weekend and school holidays around the corner, Kidsafe Victoria is asking families to be wary of the dangers posed by camping under trees.
This cautionary advice follows several incidents across Victoria and beyond involving falling trees and branches, leading to property damage, vehicular destruction, severe injuries and fatalities among both adults and children.
Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers emphasised the importance of families camping or travelling and being aware of their surroundings and potential dangers or hazards.
“Branches and entire trees can fall suddenly, posing significant risks,” Mr Chambers said.
“The risk may be increased this Easter following recent flood and storm events, which can saturate the ground, loosen soil and compromise the stability of trees.
“When setting up your campsite, it’s safest to choose a clear area away from trees, particularly if the trees show signs of being unsafe.”
To mitigate these risks, Kidsafe Victoria advises campers to set up clear areas away from trees, especially those displaying signs of potential danger, such as decay, cracks along the trunk, ground movement at the base or a pronounced lean.
In addition to tree safety, Kidsafe Victoria has issued several camping safety tips to help families prevent other common injuries during their outdoor excursions.
These include supervising children around vehicles, actively watching toddlers near water bodies, adhering to fire restrictions, supervising open flames and ensuring campfires are extinguished with water instead of soil.
Lastly, choosing camping spots away from trees and branches is recommended to avoid the risks associated with falling debris.