Outdoor Adventures with TOM: 5 Safety Reminders

TOM has personally field-tested every outdoor hazard going — falls, mystery snacks, slippery surfaces, the lot — so you don’t have to. Here are five simple reminders to pack for your next trip into the great outdoors.

6/22/20262 min read

The outdoors is the best thing going for kids — fresh air, space to run, mud to find. It’s also where a good chunk of TOM’s greatest disasters have unfolded, from swing-set backflips to mystery-plant snacking. The trick isn’t to stay inside; it’s to pack a little preparation alongside the snacks. Here are the five reminders worth taking on every adventure.

☀️ Sun-smart, always

Sun cream (SPF 30+), a hat, and shade breaks. Sunburn is your body’s overheating warning — reapply through the day, especially after water or sweat. TOM learned this one the crispy way

💧 Bring more water than you think

Hydration prevents the dizziness, headaches and overheating that turn a fun day sour. Pack a refillable bottle each, and sip regularly rather than waiting until everyone’s grumpy.

🧊 If you’re not sure, don’t eat it

Wild berries, plants, and mushrooms are for looking at, not tasting. Teach the rule before you go: unless you’re 100% certain it’s food, it’s not.

→ See Day 39: Wild Berries & Plants

🧣 Right shoes, watch the ground

Proper footwear with grip beats sliding on wet rocks, muddy slopes, or slippery riverbanks. Most outdoor falls are trips and slips — good shoes and a quick “watch your footing” prevent a lot of them.

🩹 Pack a basic first-aid kit

Plasters, antiseptic wipes, a bandage, and any personal meds cover the grazes and stings of a normal day out. Know where the nearest help is, and keep emergency numbers (999, NHS 111) handy.

The thread through all five

A few minutes of packing — sun cream, water, good shoes, a first-aid kit, and one clear “don’t eat the unknown” rule — turns most outdoor mishaps from a ruined day into a non-event.

The grab-and-go kit

If you want the whole thing as a packing list to throw in a bag by the door, here it is. None of it is fancy; all of it earns its place the one time you need it.

Pack for the next adventure

  • Sun cream (SPF 30+)

  • Insect repellent

  • Refillable water bottles

  • Plasters & antiseptic wipes

  • Small bandage / gauze

  • Proper footwear

  • Hat & sunglasses

  • Any personal medication

None of this is about wrapping kids in cotton wool — quite the opposite. A little preparation is what lets them run, climb, splash and explore freely, because the small stuff is already handled. TOM never packs, never prepares, and pays for it in every chapter. You can do better with about five minutes and a tote bag.

Five reminders, one well-packed bag, and a whole lot of adventure ahead. Save this before your next day out — and let TOM’s long history of outdoor calamity be the reason yours goes smoothly. Tomorrow, a fun one: it’s time to identify the TOM in your own friendship group. You already know who it is.

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