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Control the Fire, Control the Kids, Observe Campground Fire Laws
RV Child Safety: A Quick Review
One of my friends is an avid RV-er with a spacious Class A. Her husband doesn’t like to travel so she loads up the grandkids and goes RV adventuring. If you’re lucky enough to have kids on board for travel, or just for a day visit, here are ways to make the rig more kid-safe.
On and off the road, RV safety involves many of the same rules followed at home but there are important differences.
First, the RV is a vehicle. Seat belt and car seat laws apply according to your state. Second, it’s wise to review safety drills and fire escape locations based on the RV's unique design. Third, RV's move. Loads shift. Things can fall from overhead. Unsecured objects become missiles in a panic stop. Secure, secure, secure.
Debra Smiley Holtzman, J.D., M.A. is a nationally recognized child safety expert and the author of the popular child safety book, The Panic-Proof Parent. Published in 2000, it's still available on Amazon. Here are just a few tidbits from the book.
* Check the RV from a child's perspective. Crawl around on your hands and knees. Ask yourself what would look tempting to a toddler, and what’s within reach. Cover unused electrical outlets, even those that aren’t “hot” when you’re not hooked up.
Check floors and carpets for buried dangers like pins or coins.
* Make sure child safety devices are properly installed in the RV and are well maintained. Check them frequently. The use of a child safety device does not mean that the item is completely childproof. Proper supervision is always required, Holtzman says.
* Review safety equipment including a first aid kit stocked for both adults and children, a fire blanket, and fire extinguishers.
* Use child resistant fencing or gates at strategic spots as necessary. Keep constant eye contact and close supervision. Sailors say aye-aye for good reason. Hand over responsibility for the child just as naval officers hand over the watch. The saddest words on earth are, “But I thought she was with you.”
* Ms. Holtzman recommends latches and locks for drawers and cabinets. Like overhead bins on planes, RV cabinets might spill out loose objects when opened. Secure items well.
* Beware of window blind cords and other types of cords, ropes or strings. They can strangle kids
* Keep tools, batteries and machinery locked and out of the reach of children. Lock up poisonous materials, all sharp objects and flammable materials including matches, emergency flares, and lighters
* Use a spill resistant mug and mug holders for hot beverages. You’d never cook underway but even at rest, don’t hold or carry a child while holding hot things. Use the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep appliance cords from dangling over the edge of counters where kids could grab them, Holtzman says. .
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| Crawl around. See what a toddler sees |
* Set the RV’s hot water heater no higher than 120 degrees F. to reduce the chance of scalding. Supervision at bath time is important for the child’s safety, and to prevent water waste. If you use campground showers, be doubly careful about water temperatures and supervision.
* Install toilet locks. Unlike an adult, a toddler’s weight is concentrated in the top half of the body. When they lean into a toilet bowl, little ones may lose their balance, fall forward and drown in as little as one inch of water.
See shortcut recipes for the RV, new each week at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com
BE an RV Prepper
Prepare your RV for delays, breakdown, stranding, sudden evacuation, can't find ice, fire ban, run out of propane, supply chain interruptions, civil disturbances. How much food will you need for a week in the woods for two adults and two kids? A month in a remote fish camp? A two-week power outage? See Survival Food Handbook for tips on buying, stowing, and making meals from ordinary supermarket supplies that need no fresh ingredients.
This book was written for campers, RV travelers and boaters who have limited storage space. It's not about having a year's supply of dried food in your RV's basement.
RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS;
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
These recent news items are from local sources and may be premature or incomplete for travel planning. It's up to you to follow up as the story develops. No endorsement of any place, service nor product is implied.
It's time to look at campsite reservations for hot ticket destinations in 2027. If you always attend a park's First Day Hike, Full Moon Hike or other regular event, reserve a campsite now for these popular dates.
NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS
Sweitzer Lake State Park, near Delta, Colorado may soon become an overnight destination, no longer a day use park. It’s already popular with boaters and water skiers. Plans call for doubling the park’s footprint to more than 600 acres and adding a new visitor center,
UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS, CHANGES
By next year, RV travelers will find impressive changes at Susitna Landing State Recreation Site, a river access point in Willow, Alaska. This settlement in the Mat-Su Borough is the starting point for famous dog sled races and is also a major destination for anglers. Upgrades to the park's camping area will include new vault toilets, 61 upgraded campsites and electric hookups at 16 sites, wheelchair access, new docks and some new buildings. Work will continue through next summer.
Howard Praire in Jackson County, Oregon continues to upgrade, thanks to a decade-long $10 million project. More than 200 new concrete picnic tables and steel fire pits are being added to the park, replacing old wooden tables and rusty fire pits. Projects have included new restrooms, improved pavement, a new marina and electrical upgrades at the campgrounds. The county says camping reservations for next year are already available. Reserve at JacksonCountyOR.gov.
SCUTTLEBUTT
In Coos Bay, Oregon, Baypoint Landing is now a member of the Streamside RV Resorts & Campgrounds family.
Near Wilmington in Pender County, North Carolina an empty, 236-site RV park has been approved for construction of a new RV park and campground. No further details are available. County planners believe the location of the park near the Holly Shelter Game land will be a plus for tourists, so things look good for plans to go ahead. For updated news on camping this area check with VisitPender.com/
EVENTS
Tickets are on sale now for the star-studded Concerts Series at The Palms RV Resort in Yuma, Arizona. Here’s just a small sample: Elvis Tribute in January, 2027 and the Beach Boys in February. The luxury RV resort has a world of resort amenities such as heated pools, golf, spa and yoga classes. Go to YumaPalmsResort.com/
In Live Oak, Florida the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park has a full menu of concerts, festivals and special events all year plus camping under live oaks festooned with Spanish moss, kayaking the Suwannee River and a country store. A wee sample: In February, 2027 Suwannee Amp Jam #3 will star Joe Rusoo’s Almost Dead. Go to MusicLivesHere.com/

















































