RV Safety Gear
Recreational vehicle travel is a rewarding and affordable way to experience the wonders of the Eastern Seaboard and, indeed, the rest of the United States, if you’re so moved! RVs have only become more popular over the years, and while ownership is rewarding, it also comes with some vital responsibilities. You may have already practiced how to drive your RV and established your emergency plan with your family, but do you have the right safety gear on board your camper?
This guide to RV safety gear essentials comes to you courtesy of your friends here at Chesapeake RV Solutions, serving the state of Virginia. Bring us any questions you may have when you’re finished reading!
Medical Needs
A well-stocked first-aid kit is a necessary component of any RV trip. You won’t have easy access to medical care on the road, or it may be miles out of your way, especially if you’re boondocking in a remote location. So you’ll want to have everything you need to address minor illnesses or injuries while traveling.
Every traveler should have a sufficient supply of their daily prescription medications, plus a few extra doses for an emergency. Outside of this, you’ll want to have painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), antacids & digestive medications (Pepto-Bismol, loperamide, Tums), aloe vera, calamine lotion, bug spray, sunscreen, cold medicine, bandages, gauze, tweezers, antibacterial cream and anything else you and your crew may need. Make sure that you go through your supplies before every trip to remove expired medications and replenish low stocks.
Obviously, if a real emergency arises, you’ll need to seek professional medical attention, so it can be helpful to have some numbers on-hand of local hospitals, urgent cares and drugstores in and around the areas where you plan to travel.
Fire Safety
Fire extinguishers that are up-to-date and functional are needed on your RV. You should have at least two, but three or even four is better. Keep one in the kitchen for cooking fires, one near your RV door and one in your outdoor storage if you have one. A smoke detector is also necessary, and you’ll want to change out the batteries every six months. You may wish to keep one in the main living area and one in the bedroom.
Ways To Get Help
When you’re traveling out into the wilderness, you may not be able to get an adequate cell phone signal at all times, or you may lose power and have a dead phone that can’t be charged. In this event, you’ll want a hand-crank emergency radio that you can listen to for information on weather events. A battery-powered radio is also good, provided you have a stash of fresh batteries for it. If you have a two-way radio, you can use it to try signaling for help. Outside of that, signal flares are a good way to alert rescue crews to your location. And signaling devices for hikers and climbers are also useful to have.
Surge Protection
The power supplies at campsites are notoriously unreliable, so having a means of regulating the energy flow into your camper becomes essential for safety. Even a generator or solar power supply on your RV can act up unexpectedly. A surge protector will keep your electronics from being fried by brownouts or blackouts, so keep one handy!
While this list isn’t comprehensive, it’s a great start to making your RV a safer place. Still need a camper? Come see us at our location in Chesapeake, Virginia, to take a tour of our current stock of new and used campers and RVs for sale. Chesapeake RV Solutions proudly serves the cities of Virginia Beach and Suffolk, Virginia.