The annual family picnic. The daylong music festival. The impromptu baseball game that’ll last forever because nobody’s any good at pitching.
What? You were just going to head out with a bottle of Dr Pepper and a pair of sunglasses, weren’t you?
No, no, no. Unless you want to come back sunburned, dehydrated or sick, you should put together an outdoor survival kit. Besides picnic food, here’s what you might want to bring:
• Hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes.
• Sunscreen. Pack a bottle, SPF 15 or higher. (And if that bottle is 3 years old, the American Academy of Dermatology says you should buy a new one.)
• Bug spray. We’re talking to you, concerts in the park crowd. Once the sun goes down, bugs are brutal. If you’re inviting people over, don’t rely on citronella torches; have a can of spray on hand in case the bugs start biting.
• Water. Even if you’ve got a case of beer and a cooler full of Coke, it’s still good to have water on hand; if someone becomes dehydrated, those other drinks aren’t going to help. And it’s true, many outdoor concert venues don’t let you bring water bottles inside the gate. So bring cash to buy water.
• A good cooler and lots of ice. If your day out involves potato salad, this one’s for you. Cold food is dangerous at a picnic. Let it get above 40 degrees and you’ll have a lovely bowl of bacteria. So make sure your cooler closes with a solid click, and pack it tightly with lots of ice or ice packs.
When you have to take food out to serve it, don’t leave it out for longer than an hour. Or put each bowl in a bigger bowl filled with ice. When you’re packing your picnic, remember to chill your food before you pack it. A cooler can’t make your food cold, but it will keep it cold.
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