RV Safety Gear: Fire Blankets, Extinguishers, and First Aid

[RayIN]

Dang Tom! You might have became the BBQ. A liquid LP flame cannot be extinguished successfully, or it leave a cloud of propane vapor with which to contend. That is even more dangerous. The word BOOM comes to mind.
Turning off the LP source is the only solution, good job!

 

[Rene T]

But, in a panic situation, it's easy to grab the wrong can. Fire extinguishers should not be stored out of site inside a cabinet.
When I worked at our local hospital, we had Fire Fighter show up twice a year showing employees the proper way to use the extinguishers hands on. You would be amazed at how many tried to remove the safety pin while squeezing the handle.
They stressed that they should be readily available in plain sight.

Fire extinguishers should be mounted right next to the closest exit door. That way if you can’t extinguish the fire, your path for getting would be at that same exit,

 

[JudyJB]

Agreed about not storing fire stuff in a cabinet. Also, I would hope that little bag the fire blanket is in is very easy to open.

I had one of those small fire extinguishers right next to my bed when I was traveling. (Besides the big one by the exit door.) I also had a rechargeable flashlight at every entrance and next to my bed--did not want to deal with finding stuff in the dark or even escaping into the dark without a quick light so I would not trip.

Also, ALWAYS kept my cell phone on tiny table next to my bed so I could grab it in an emergency.

Many, many years ago, when I was first married, we lived in a small trailer that gas a gas stove. I used to wipe off the top, but apparently not always good enough because one morning, I turned a back burner on and a flame flew across the top and caught my nightgown on fire. Luckily, the nightgown was 100% cotton so it just got singed and the fire immediately went out. I had no burns and the slight singing of the nightgown came out in wash, but i have not liked gas stoves ever since. (My new condo home has glass-covered electric.)

 

[DonTom]

I heard years ago, small kitchen fires can be put out with table salt. An item that is often in the kitchen anyway.

I assume it usually will work.

In the jungles of Vietnam, we used C-4 to heat up c-rations. When we wanted to put that fire out, we would simply pour sand on top which worked well every time. They say if you try to stomp it out with your foot, it will blow your foot off. Never seen anybody try that, the sand trick always worked well.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[DonTom]

Fire extinguishers should be mounted right next to the closest exit door. That way if you can’t extinguish the fire, your path for getting would be at that same exit,

I would think to have a few of them at various locations would be best, but the exit door is the main one. But what if you cannot get to the exit door because of the fire?

This RV only has one exit door in front, but there is a way to jump out a large window in the rear.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[bigbAZ]

This is a timely thread for me as I just upgraded all my first aid kits. Will consider fire blankets, although we don't do much cooking in the RV.

Another safety item you may want to consider adding to your first aid kit are some Bleed Stop pads, especially if someone is on blood thinners. They generally do not come with most first aid kits due to cost.

 

[John From Detroit]

Also, ALWAYS kept my cell phone on tiny table next to my bed so I could grab it in an emergency.

My cell is always close for diabetic reasons (it's my glucose monitor)

As for Fire Extinguishers.. Wall mounted makes it so the person who showed two items that look alike.. NO chance of confusion (one was fuel the other the extinguisher) if they are that kind... Two one just outside the kitchen's north and the othe south entrance. More traditional extinguishers (again no chance of confusion) scattered about as well.

 

[Tom]

Turning off the LP source is the only solution, good job!

Before turning off the source, this stuff flashed through my mind in what seemed like a long time, but was almost instantaneous ...

My first thought was for my friend (visiting for dinner) and I to pick up the BBQ and toss it over the railing to the water below. Then I remembered I hadn't secured the propane tank and, if we picked up the BBQ, the tank would drop onto our then redwood deck, the hose would be ripped off, and the tank with leaking regulator and powered flame would roll around our deck, setting it on fire which would quickly spread to our house, and jump to our neighbor's house.

 

[LarsMac]

I keep three extinguishers. one by the entry, of course, another by the bed, and another next to the driver's door.
Blankets and First Aid Kit behind passenger seat.
I may pick up one of those Fire blankets. They could prove quite useful.

 

[RayIN]

I think nearly all fire blankets were made of 100% wool, then treated. Today there are several better(IMO) materials available

 

[RayIN]

I heard years ago, small kitchen fires can be put out with table salt. An item that is often in the kitchen anyway.

I assume it usually will work.

In the jungles of Vietnam, we used C-4 to heat up c-rations. When we wanted to put that fire out, we would simply pour sand on top which worked well every time. They say if you try to stomp it out with your foot, it will blow your foot off. Never seen anybody try that, the sand trick always worked well.

-Don- Sac Pass, NV

 

[John From Detroit]

I heard years ago, small kitchen fires can be put out with table salt. An item that is often in the kitchen anyway.

I assume it usually will work.

Table salt or bicarbonate of soda.. Which is more or less what's in dry chemical extinguishers.

Used Baking soda once in a kitchen.. Sister wondered why I ask where it was. (IT was were I expected it to be an fire out rather impressively) If it's a dish on the stove (This was not)
Soda may "Save the dish" where as salt may ruin it Note the use of "may".

 

[Tom]

Back in the olde country in the days of coal fires, someone would occasionally have their chimney on fire. Since most of the houses (and chimneys) were brick or stone, a homeowner might not know their chimney was on fire unless/until a passing neighbor rang their doorbell to let them know.

I recall a chimney fire at my parent's home, and my Dad put salt on the fire. At the time, I didn't understand why, and imagined it was something to do with "smoke from the hot salt" helping to choke the flames in the chimney. Now I realize it was to stifle the fire and prevent further flames going up the chimney.

 

[Rene T]

I can remember when I was on the Fire Dept. we use to drop packets of baking powder/sofa down the chimney to put it out. You never want to use water. Water will crack a hot chimney

 

[Tom]

... we use to drop packets of baking powder/sofa down the chimney to put it out.

I thought they did that to make it easier for Santa to slide down the chimney

 

[Rene T]

I thought they did that to make it easier for Santa to slide down the chimney

Now that I think of it, you could be right

 

[NY_Dutch]

I think nearly all fire blankets were made of 100% wool, then treated. Today there are several better(IMO) materials available

My "Prepared Hero" fire blankets are fiberglass.

Amazon.com

 

[NY_Dutch]

Agreed about not storing fire stuff in a cabinet. Also, I would hope that little bag the fire blanket is in is very easy to open.

The bag is held closed by a Velcro tab. A quick pull on two tapes is all it takes to pull it out.

 

[permitwriter]

I have several extinguishers including one by the bed and one in the toad. And a blanket in the kitchen. What else? I have a set of reflective triangles. What about security cameras? Burglar alarms? Water leak alarms? I recently added a plug in combo gas & CO detector in the bedroom. The built in propane detector recently reached it's end of life It's in the front of the motorhome by the passenger seat so I'm going to replace it with a combo propane - CO alarm. I have several flashlights and other lights that have a strobe mode, some of them bright red.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Bright yellow safety vests with reflective bands sewn to them, two in the trailer in a cabinet just inside the door, and two in the truck. Home Depot and other places sell them. Two or three of mine are from my work, laundered and folded and put in zip lock bags (and no they didn't fade and the reflective tape is just as reflective as ever). At least one came from Home Depot.

I have two flashlights, both NEBO 600 Big Larry rechargeable lights, one in the trailer and one in the truck. They have a flashing red mode and a super strong magnet in the base. You can stick it to the fender and aim it toward traffic. The flashing red is BRIGHT.

I also keep a rescue hammer in the door storage pocket of the truck. Designed to break tempered glass and has a cutter for seat belts. I've had it for years.