For those who love to travel but don’t like leaving the comforts of home behind, RVing offers the ideal combination of transportation and living quarters. Equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and more, these ‘homes on wheels’ can pose several risks, including fires. The National Protection Association offers the following tips on how to stay safe while camping in recreational vehicles:
- Have your vehicle serviced by a qualified mechanic.
- Keep a portable fire extinguisher on board to use if there is a small fire that can be contained.
- Make sure campfires are allowed before setting one up.
- Set up campfires at least 25 feet away from anything that can burn.
- Turn off camping heaters and lanterns while sleeping.
- Practice a fire escape plan. Know two ways to exit and ensure windows open easily.
- Have your propane system inspected.
- Check refrigerators, furnaces, ovens, and stove tops for propane leaks. Keep an updated gas leak detector on board.
- Use only one heat-producing appliance plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time. All major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
- Stay in the kitchen while you cook. Be sure to keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove top.
- Install smoke alarms and perform tests to make sure they work properly.
Source: PropertyCasualty360
