RV lifestyle: use this home safety checklist to protect yourself and your RV.
No matter if you’re a full time RVer or a weekend enthusiast, you need to treat your RV as your home. That means following smart safety practices to help safeguard it, as well as yourself.
The following home safety checklist isn’t a complete collection of such tips. Instead, it’s meant to cover the basics – and hopefully spur you into thinking about other ways to improve your safety.
Basic home safety checklist ideas
Fire extinguishers: Always have at least one working fire extinguisher inside your RV – and preferably more than that. Fire extinguishers are constructed to handle different types of fires, which is why you should have more than a single extinguisher. Here’s a list of the main classes of fire extinguishers, and the kinds of fires they’re used for:
- Class A – Paper, wood and other typical combustibles
- Class B – Grease, oil and other flammable liquids
- Class C – Electrical equipment
- Class D – Flammable metals
LP gas leak, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Equip your RV with all these detectors, as each detector monitors a different substance. It could be a life-saving move. Mount your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors either on the ceiling or near the top of a wall.
Emergency weather radio: Nothing can disrupt the serenity of your RV lifestyle faster than threatening weather. RVs are particularly vulnerable to strong winds, such as those associated with thunderstorms or tornadoes. Give yourself as much time to react as possible to approaching storms by investing in a battery-powered emergency weather radio.
Evacuation plan: Does your campsite have an emergency evacuation plan in case of severe weather? Find out at the office. If they don’t, devise your own plan. Scout the site for possible storm shelters. Make these decisions now – not when a storm is barreling towards you.
First aid kit: Whether you buy a ready-made first aid kit or put together your own, just be sure to have one. Include items such as bandages, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic solutions (such as hydrogen peroxide) or antiseptic wipes, hydrocortisone cream, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tweezers, sharp scissors, safety pins, cold pack, thermometers, plastic gloves and calamine lotion. It’s a good idea to insert a first-aid manual, too.
Emergency supply kit: RVers often have a vibrant sense of adventure. However, adventure sometimes carries an element of danger. So, keep a well-stocked emergency supply kit that includes extra blankets, non-perishable food items, bottled water, manual can opener, flashlights, batteries, extra medication and any other personal items needed for an emergency.
Doors and windows: Sometimes the relaxed RV lifestyle can cause you to be less vigilant about your safety than you would be at home. But, be sure to lock your doors and secure your windows. If your doors or windows don’t offer adequate protection, be proactive and take measures to reinforce their security.
Home safety should include a strong RV insurance policy, too.
While it’s important to follow this home safety checklist, you can’t completely control what happens to your RV. That’s why a comprehensive RV insurance plan that financially protects your investment is a must.
Does your current RV insurance policy provide all the protection you need? Don’t wait until you have to file a claim to find out. Call Explorer RV Insurance today at 1-888-774-6778 for a free consultation. We might even be able to save you money on your insurance.
