Cottage Safety Checklist

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Here's everything you need for a safe and fun time at the cottage

By CottageCountry.com

To ensure that your cottage vacation is the best ever and everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, it's important to take some preventative safety measures.  Use this list as a starting guide. Each cottage, cottage region and each family will have distinctive requirements, so make sure to just use these safety tips as a guideline.
 
 To get you started, here's some essential safety gear:

 • Standard first aid kit, including a manual, alcohol wipes, disinfectant, Band-Aids, wound coverings, bandages, scissors, adhesive tape, any medications or extra EpiPens and fast-working antihistamines
• 10 candles, windproof matches and a wind-proof candle holder
• Flashlight (preferably a rechargeable one)
• Batteries
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (tested regularly)
• Fire extinguisher
• Pot or kettle suitable for boiling water over an open flame
• Hatchet or small axe
• Enough bottled water to last 72 hours (per person)
• Instant food and beverages (soups, hot cocoa, tea, protein bars)
• Can opener
• Snack items in secure containers (cereals, pretzels, crackers)
• Extra pet food in secure containers
• Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen

 Essential boating gear:

• Life jackets (one per person)
• Sunscreen
• An oar
• Blanket
• A bucket or bowl for bailing out water
• First aid kit
• Flashlight (for night boaters)
• Waterproof matches

In the winter, add the following to the list:

• Shovel
• Waterproof, insulated boots
• Spare clothing, hats, mittens, and thick blankets and/or sleeping bags
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
• Sand or non-clumping cat litter (for traction)
• Booster cables

Some extra precautions:

• Children must always be supervised outside the cottage, particularly around water.
• Keep children and pets away from barbecue areas.
• Everyone should avoid swimming alone.
• Know your cottage's full address and emergency numbers.
• Know the location of the nearest hospital.
• Don't leave candles or the campfire unattended.
• If your municipality allows campfires, build the fire with care on exposed rock or bare soil, and keep a bucket of water or sand close by.

Following these safety guidelines will ensure your cottage holiday is the most memorable ever for the right reasons!