Stay Safe in the Forest This Summer
Foresters, together with other emergency and public services, are reminding people how to enjoy the outdoors safely. Proper preparation and awareness of a few basic rules can help prevent dangerous situations during summer trips.
As the summer holidays approach, picnics, fairs and educational events focusing on safety during the holiday season have been taking place in towns and cities across Poland, with more likely to follow throughout the summer. Participants have included police officers, firefighters, rescue workers, soldiers and foresters from the State Forests.
During these events, children, young people and adults have had the opportunity not only to see the equipment used by the various services, but above all to learn how to stay safe during holidays, day trips and outdoor activities. An important part of these initiatives is teaching people how to behave responsibly in the forest.
Foresters remind visitors that forests are excellent places for walking, cycling, mushroom picking and camping, but outdoor recreation should always go hand in hand with caution and responsibility.
How should you prepare for a trip to the forest?
Before setting out, plan your route and check the course of marked trails or forest roads. It is also a good idea to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
For longer trips, take a fully charged mobile phone, water, a basic first-aid kit and clothing suited to the weather conditions. The mBDL mobile app – the Mobile Forest Data Bank – can also help you plan your trip.
Wear suitable footwear and clothing that protects against ticks and insects. After returning home, check your entire body carefully for ticks. Our forest trip checklist may also be useful when preparing for your visit.
Safe walks and mushroom picking
When walking in the forest, it is best to stay on marked trails and designated roads. Do not stray from your group or enter unfamiliar areas. Children should always remain under adult supervision.
Foresters also advise visitors not to touch unfamiliar plants or approach wild animals. When encountering a roe deer, red deer or wild boar, observe it from a safe distance and do not attempt to feed it.
When mushroom picking, collect only species you can identify with certainty. When in doubt, it is better to leave a mushroom where it is than risk poisoning.
Fire prevention - forest safety depends on all of us
The risk of forest fires increases during the summer. It is therefore particularly important to follow fire safety regulations.
Open fires are prohibited in forests and within 100 metres of the forest boundary, except in specifically designated areas. Do not discard cigarette ends or leave glass bottles or other waste that could cause a fire.
Any signs of fire or smoke should be reported immediately by calling the emergency number 112.
Camping safely in the forest
Anyone planning to spend the night in the forest should use designated campsites or areas made available under the “Spend the Night in the Forest” programme.
The programme operates in every forest district and allows visitors to camp legally in designated areas, provided that they comply with the applicable rules.
When camping, leave the area as you found it. Take all rubbish with you, and light fires only in places where this is expressly permitted.
Before setting out, read the programme regulations and check the locations of available camping areas on the State Forests maps.
A summer full of adventure and responsibility
The forest is a place for recreation, learning and experiencing nature. To ensure that your summer memories are nothing but positive, remember the basic safety rules, respect nature and follow official guidance and alerts, including those issued by the Government Centre for Security.
We wish everyone an enjoyable, active and, above all, safe summer.
