Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

It has been said to everything there is a season. Hurricane season is considered between the beginning of June until mid to late November and should be of some concern to RVers.

Here are some bits of information that may help RVers in understanding hurricanes and in planning survival preparations.

• Hurricanes don’t appear without warning as tornadoes sometimes do.
• Hurricanes slowly develop from tropical depressions into tropical storms before becoming named hurricanes. The process takes days, sometimes weeks. By the time they are named they are being followed closely by weather media.
• As they develop they grow in size. Average is 200 to 400 miles across. The big ones grow to 550 or more miles wide.
• Hurricanes move forward slowly along their way which is not a straight line. They have been known to twist and turn and double back or go in a loop.
• Some Hurricanes carry huge quantities of rain while others transport very little water.
• A danger of hurricanes comes from flying debris picked up by the winds and thrown or dropped with great force.
• Tornadoes are frequently spawned by hurricanes which tends to be a reason why hurricanes cause so much widespread damage
• What should RVrers do? Above all, use common sense and remain calm.
• Planning and preparation is where you start. As an RVer you are already a step ahead in getting ready for a hurricane.
• Evacuation is the key to safely surviving a hurricane and your RV gives you a great advantage.
• Don’t wait too long and chance being stalled in heavy traffic with unprepared, last minute evacuees. As soon as you know a hurricane is likely to come your way load up your RV and head out.
• It may actually take days to reach a safe destination. The path of the storm may change requiring you to change directions so stay informed as you travel.
• Full time RVers will probably have many of the supplies needed to live for several days or more. Part time RVers should check the contents of their rigs in preparation for the season.
• Keep your fuel tank and propane tank topped off because there will be long lines at gas stations when the evacuation rush is on.
• Even if you’re among the first to evacuate you may find full RV parks and campgrounds. Lay in supplies as though you are going off to boondock somewhere for a week. Take extra water.
• Don’t forget plenty of batteries and a portable radio with a weather channel. Replenish your first aid kit, check on prescription medications. Make sure you have clothes and supplies for babies, youngsters, pets and yourself. Keep cell phones and two way radios charged. Keep everyone in your family, or group, informed of plans.
• If for whatever reason you find that it is too late for an evacuation and the hurricane is on track to hit your location here are a few suggestions of what to do in what little time there is.
• Move the RV out of reach of trees that can fall on it. Park close to a building on the opposite side from which the wind will hit. Face the RV with the front into the oncoming wind. Second choice would be the back into the wind. Keep in mind that wind direction will change as the hurricane moves through the area. If you have access to city or RV park drinking water, fill as many containers as you can. Go inside, latch doors, close vents, cover windows and keep a portable radio with a weather channel with you to hear constant weather updates.
• By the time a hurricane is named you should be following it’s location and be pretty well prepared.

For more information on RVing during hurricane season visit RVBasics.com

   Send article as PDF to

Larry D. Spears offers us this tip

I recently had a real near miss with an outdoor electrical extension cord at my home.

I had been using the cord while it was still rolled up on a storage spool.

Extension Cord Reel

Many times in the past I have unrolled only enough cord to reach the appliance I need to power. I felt this was a good practice in order to prevent a tripping hazard, and keep everything looking tidy and neat. However, electrical cords are rated in large part by their insulation factor. They are designed to be used in environments without extreme ambient temperatures such as what we normally experience on a day to day basis.

By not un-spooling the entire cord before each use, I had unknowingly altered the temperature the cord was exposed to tremendously.

The temperature in the center of this cord bundle became hot enough to melt all of the insulation from portions of the wire.

The first thing I looked for when I discovered this was a caution on the spool indicating the proper use of the device and there it was, molded right into the side of the spool “Caution: Unreel cord before use”. I am attaching pictures so you can see what I am talking about. Also, I am asking you to please send this to everyone in your distribution list so they will realize this is a very dangerous practice. So many people I have talked to about this do the exact same thing.

Melted Extension Cord

As you can see in the last picture, the portions of the wire that were exposed (that I could see) were not damaged. It wasn’t until I was unreeling the entire cord that I found this.

PLEASE stop someone if you see them doing something you know is wrong or unsafe. Even if they have much more “experience” than you. There are many ways you can respectfully explain to someone they are doing something unsafe, so use one of them and let’s watch out for each other.

Thanks.

Larry D. Spears

LSpears@Dow.com

   Send article as PDF to