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Fire Safety
The Spring and Summer camping season is just around the corner for those of us in North Carolina. Here is some food for thought on fire saftery:
Make sure before you dump the antifreeze, pack up the family and hit the highway to PLEASE check those smoke detectors. Also if you have not invested in a CO Detector to please do so. CO is the silent killer and any of your LP appliances that are not properly operating can produce CO. Co replaces the O2 in the atmosphere. Although most rigs come with a LP detector it will not pick up CO.
For those of you that are full-timers, I certainly hope you are making regular checks on those detectors.
Another thought is to invest in a larger size portable fire extinguisher than the units are equipped with. Although I am in the fire investigation business, I once rode an engine and extinguished fires. I you have a moderate kitchen fire, that little small portable fire extinguisher mounted on the wall will not do the job. Suggest getting at least a 5lb ABC extinguisher with a metal head. The plastic heads sometimes develop leaks and will not function when you need them. Expecially with all the movement of running down the road. The metal head portable fire extinguishers will hold a charge better and they can be refilled. Plastic head portable extinguisher cannot be refilled once discharged.
Every month you should remove the extinguisher(s) and make a visual inspection on them, turn them upside down and shake them. That way the powder inside will not become compacted causing the extinguisher not to function properly when needed. Suggest that once a year they be discaharged by a professional company and then recharged.
Watch those campfires. Use a fire ring or big rocks. Never leave a fire unattended. Never start a fire with gasoline or any ignitable liquid. Fire logs work great for this or a bag of matchlit charcoal under a couple of logs.
Think Fire Smart and Happy Camping.
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