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RV PARK GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
CARBON MONOXIDE & RV SAFETY
Unless they are properly installed and vented in the RV, take gas grills and generators outside.
Carbon Monoxide, An Update
Carbon Monoxide, the invisible killer, continues to kill and sicken, and not just in winter. According to the National Safety Council, this odorless gas still kills about 200 Americans yearly and affects uncounted others. Let's take a new look.
CO is produced by the incomplete burning of a large variety of fuels including wood, coal, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, natural gas, gasoline and even tobacco.
Let’s say you’re swimming near a boat that is running a quiet generator or you're parked in an area where vehicles or generators run for hours. Unseen and scentless, CO pools on the surface of the land or water. Maybe your RV’s propane stove, furnace or water heater is faulty. Or you’re running a gas-powered leaf blower or power washer in a low area where the CO accumulates. Or a fireplace vent is clogged. Dangers lurk.
Studies at Brigham Young University found that about 25 percent of CO victims were left with some degree of permanent brain damage such as memory loss, nerve damage, depression, anxiety, cognitive disorders, and even personality changes–even if they had been treated with oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen. The solution, say the experts, is prevention.
Here is food for thought.
*Smoke detectors can’t “see” carbon monoxide. Your RV needs separate sensors for smoke, CO, gasoline and propane. Some alarms handle multiple sensors.
* Get a battery-operated CO alarm in case your electric hook-up fails. Replace batteries yearly on a special date such as your birthday or anniversary. While some alarms have a warning sound to signal low battery, it’s best to change batteries before they get to this point.
* Vent fuel-burning devices properly. Don’t burn charcoal under cover such as the RV awning or screen enclosure.
* CO victims may feel sleepy or achy and just want to stay in bed. If the CO alarm sounds, get everyone into the fresh air and don't take NO for an answer. Call 911. Victims may need evacuation to a treatment facility.
* Choose a CO alarm with a test function, and test it periodically. Sensors have a limited life, so get an alarm with an end-of-life warning: This feature alerts consumers when it's time to replace the unit (not just batteries).
* Get an alarm with a digital display screen that shows the level of CO detected in the home, and updates the reading every 15 seconds. If you wake up feeling queasy, check this first.
* Peak-Level Memory is a feature that records the highest level of CO present. The first thing rescuers do is get you out into fresh air, then air out the RV. However, Memory tells them the whole story of how long and strong your exposure has been. Knowing the CO level can help them determine treatment.
* Plug-in with Battery Backup: This model is easy to plug into any electrical socket, and it has 9V battery backup.
* Voice Warning: This feature clearly announces the threat so everyone can evacuate the RV ASAP.
* Prevent false alarms by mounting CO alarms at least 15 feet from cooking or heating appliances.
* Do a search for “best CO alarm” and you’ll find a number of reports that can lead you to a consensus.
CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS;
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
These news items are collected from our local sources. They may be incomplete or premature for RV travel planning. They appear here so you can follow each story on your own as it develops.
NEW & FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS
Approved for 2027 is the building of the Whoa Time RV Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. The park will have eight RV sites. Check with VisitGrandIsland.com for all tourism information as this story develops.
Another newbie is the St. Maries Riverfront RV Resort on the St. Joe River in Ste. Maries, Idaho. The 42-site resort has modern hookups, a laundry, fishing pier and swimming area. Reserve far ahead for special events such as Paul Bunyan Days over Labor Day and jetboat races in May. Get full details about this historic, scenic area from the Chamber of Commerce, StMariesChamber.org/
By next summer, 135 new RV sites will be available in Anchorage, Alaska with the completion of the Denali View R-V Resort. Plans call for trails, a garden with historic markers and a playground. Reservations are not yet open.
George T. Bagby State Park, Georgia has a new, 32-site RV park with full hookups as well as new park features such as classrooms, a renovated pool, ball courts, laundry and a amphitheater. The park is on 45,000-acre Lake Eufaula, one of the south’s best birding spots for migrating waterfowl. Check for an opening date in the New Year. Georgiastateparks.org
EXPANSIONS, CHANGES, NEW OWNERS
Branford, Florida is in the heart of Suwannee River country, where the new (November, 2025) Rivers Crossing is now into Phase Two of its development. During 2026 look for the addition of a permanent office, pull-thru sites, a swimming pool and pickleball courts. The resort has full hookups, Wi-Fi, a dog park, bathhouse, arts and crafts and storage for boats and trailers. A bicycle path that runs through the property is on the Rails to Trails Greenway.
Before booking, make sure you can agree to sign the extensive liability waiver. It’s found on the website. Camp@RiversCrossingRV.com/ (386) 266-9087
In North Dakota, Rough Rider State Park, formerly Sully Creek SP, is redesigning and expanding its campgrounds. The 50 sites will include primitive camping, sites with water and electric and equestrian sites. There’s a dump station ,hiking and biking trails, horseback riding and access to the 144-mile Mash Daah Hey Trail. Campsites can be booked 95 days in advance. (800) 807-4723.
The Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville, New York has a new owner. The 108-acre campground has 215 campsites, cabins, a heated in-ground pool, a hot tub, a stocked fishing lake and a water park with splash pad. No changes have been announced at this time.
Portsmouth, Ohio has a $34 million grant for construction and restoration of its waterfront, which is expected to become a major tourist attraction. Included will be a 60-site campground as well as an amphitheater, stage, gardens,, overlooks and trails. The opening could be as early as Fall, 2026.
EVENTS
The Blue Oak RV Park in Ingram, Texas is closed for good. It’s among those parks and campgrounds that were destroyed in the floods last July and will not reopen.
Due to erosion, high maintenance costs and safety concerns, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has permanently closed swim beaches at two Beaver Lake campgrounds near Rogers, Arkansas. . Area campgrounds are reserved through Recreation.gov/
See Janet’s RV new recipes of the week at https://www.CampAndRVCook.blogspot.com
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