Q: Hi. We plan to visit in April. We will be camping and boating with a small 16-foot boat. What should we put in our emergency kit? Are there any dangerous insects or animals? If so, what are the precautions and care if anything happens? Thank you very much. -- Robert and Suzan

A: Good for you for wanting to be prepared in case of emergency, Robert and Suzan!

First, you may want to check out boating safety requirements specific to Florida. Please be aware that manatee zones will still be enforced in April, so follow all speed-limit signs to avoid injuring a manatee or getting a ticket.

As for an emergency kit, see what safety equipment is recommended for your boat size. You may also consider putting together your own First Aid kit. You can buy them ready-made at drug stores and through catalogs, but making your own as my family did is much better and less expensive. Our First Aid kit includes the usual, plus many, many more helpful things like dental filling replacement, emergency flares and other signaling devices, burn cream, a hand towel, an unbreakable glass mirror and a sewing needle. Be sure you know how to use what's in your kit, and keep it updated. For more information, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross.

I can't mention all the possible dangers, either on the water in your boat or on land while you're camping. I can't be responsible for not having warned you about everything. None of us has that guarantee just getting out of bed each morning!

And I won't make certain animals out to be bad guys. There are several pages on this site already that address readers' fears of certain wildlife (mainly alligators), but most of the time, wildlife encounters are brief and uneventful. In fact, I unwittingly spooked an alligator a couple weeks ago in the Everglades, making it dive into the water with a splash. The alligator was frightened of me -- and most animals do have a natural fear of people. You likely won't come into any danger from wildlife, but give all wildlife plenty of room. And definitely don't feed or harass any wildlife, even the raccoons that may show up at your tent's door, looking for a handout. Be sure to talk and make a little noise so you don't surprise any animals -- but if viewing wildlife is one of your goals, then you do need to be quiet so you don't scare them away. Get or borrow a Florida field guide and take it with you so you will be acquainted with the wildlife here and be able to recognize them. (I do this when I travel to other states.) Keep in mind that where you are traveling is their home.

You know, of course, that ticks and mosquitoes can carry diseases, so be sure to wear repellent and appropriate clothing.

If you have a cell phone, be sure to take it with you and keep it charged. Unless you go into very remote areas, you should be able to use it. Keep handy the phone number(s) of the office that manages the natural area you'll be exploring -- like a park ranger -- if you want to be really prepared. A phone can be a useful tool.

If you are going out into the wilderness, make sure someone knows where you are going and when you're expected back. (Many places require you to do this, especially if you are camping in the backcountry.) And if you get truly lost, stay put because it's easier for rescuers to find you that way.

Look forward to the fun you'll have on your trip, and try not to worry! You definitely need to be prepared -- and hopefully my suggestions will be a good start toward that end -- but let me just say to anyone who ends up reading this page that anticipating danger at every turn doesn't make for a fun trip, and then you're better off not having gone anywhere. Take steps for your personal safety, yes, but don't let fear run your life.

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