Translations:AY Honors/Camp Craft/Answer Key/38/en

Locate the fire in a safe place. It should be clear for 10 feet (3 meters) all around.
Do not light a fire beneath overhanging branches or tents, shelters etc.
Do not use accelerants, such as lighter fluid, gasoline, kerosene, etc. Learn to light a fire without these.
Put the fire out completely before leaving it. If it's too hot to put your hands in the ashes, it's not sufficiently out. Douse it down with water, turn the coals with a shovel, and be sure to extinguish every coal and ember.
Do not build a fire on top of flammable material such as grass or leaves.
Cut away the sod (keep it moist so it stays alive, and replace it before your leave), and clear away the duff and litter.
Keep fire extinguishing supplies handy and near the fire. A bucket of water or sand, or a fire extinguisher are recommended.
Do not remove burning sticks from a fire.
Watch for embers that escape the fire pit and extinguish them immediately.
Wear proper footwear around a fire.
Be aware that paper, cardboard, and leaves create floating embers that rise out of the fire pit and may land dozens of yards away.
Do not light a fire when conditions are adverse (high winds, or drought conditions) or when fires are prohibited by law.

Before chopping any wood, take a gentle practice swing to check that the axe will not catch on anything (such as an overhead branch).
Consider what will happen if you miss whatever you are chopping at - will you accidentally hit a finger? A foot? A bystander? Leave plenty of margin for error.
Make sure the axe head is firmly attached to the axe handle. If it is loose, you may tighten it by wetting the handle, by driving a hardwood wedge into the handle through the eye of the blade, or by rapping the axe handle vertically on a hard surface.
Keep bystanders away by one arms length plus two axe-lengths.
When handing someone an axe, present the handle to them rather than the blade.
Walk with the blade facing away from you.
Sheathe the axe when it is not in use.
Always maintain firm footing when using or carrying an axe.
Stop when you are tired and rest. Tired people are more prone to accidents and mistakes.