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–Make sure your child’s tetanus shots are up to date.
–If your child has an epinephrine auto-injector for bee or wasp venom allergy, check the expiry date.
–Look up the telephone numbers for your local Poison Control Centre and Telehealth service, and program them into your cellphone.
–Learn the names of the plants in your garden. Tip: Save the stakes from plant pots.
–Remove any mushrooms from your yard.
–Rid your property of mosquito breeding grounds by emptying puddles, bird baths and other pools of standing water.
–Stock your freezer or cooler with ice packs. Make your own by folding paper towels into pads, moistening with water, placing in a zip-top bag and freezing.
A version of this article appeared in our May 2012 issue, with the headline Outdoor Survival Guide (p. 42).