When it comes to spending time outdoors, camping, and traveling in an RV, safety is of the utmost importance.

Taking necessary precautions ahead of time can be a distress-saver for you and a money-saver for your RV and other camping gear you have along. This article offers some global safety tips, along with links to more robust articles on our website that go into more detail.

Personal Safety

  • For babies and toddlers, either leave them in their car seats, in a stroller, in a pack n’ play, or in a little fenced-in play area if both parents are busy, such as when setting up camp or cooking. Work together to plan this out so that everyone knows what to expect and nobody feels overwhelmed.
  • If you have infants and toddlers, baby-proof the interior of your RV, using gates, outlet protectors, and cabinet locks as needed.
  • Never leave a young child unattended around a campfire or hot grill.
  • Just like at home, keep hazardous items stored away and out of reach of little hands.
  • For everyone in the camper, make sure all necessary medications and first-aid items are available and up to date.
  • Have emergency plans in place that everyone can understand, in the case of fire, in the case of bad weather, in the case of getting separated on the hiking or water trail, etc.
  • When out and away from the campsite, have a fully charged cell phone, first-aid kit, map, an extra layer
  • Listen to your campground hosts, the Michigan DNR, and the National Weather Service to make good, informed decisions about safe and not-so-safe places to be, fire danger, and inclement weather.

 

Campground Safety

  • If your campsite doesn’t already have a fire pit, then follow the tips of Smokey the bear to pick and prepare a fire pit. Basically, choose a site at least 15 feet away from flammable objects that is in an open location, clear a 10-foot diameter around it, dig down 12 inches, and circle the pit with rocks.
  • Never leave a campfire unattended. Have water and sand buckets ready in case the fire gets out of hand. Make sure a fire is completed extinguished before going in for the night or leaving the campsite.
  • Keep all combustible liquids far away from a heat source.
  • Orient kids to a new campground when you arrive. Show them the main buildings, ask them to find their way back the campsite from various points in the campground, give them a map, and tell them which areas are off-limits.
  • Drive around a campground slowly, back into a spot slowly, and depart a camping spot slowly. Notice a pattern, here? As a courtesy, let your neighbors know you’ll be moving – and use an assistant to help with these tasks to be your eyes and ears in tough to see places from the perspective of inside your RV or tow vehicle.

 

RV Safety

  • Maintain your RV. This is the largest source of prevention. Check tires, batteries, connections, hoses, and all systems to ensure they are in good condition and working properly. Many RV fires are caused by electrical shorts or faulty wiring.
  • Know your RV systems so that you know how to turn them off or troubleshoot as needed.
  • Check all detectors and monitors, replacing batteries each season, and make sure all fire extinguishers are in accessible locations (and know how to operate one).
  • Unplug appliances when not in use.

 

Activity Safety

  • Tell someone your plans if you’re splitting into groups or at least leave a note in your RV in case something goes awry and somebody checks the RV later.
  • When biking, it’s important to follow TRAILS: Use the right side of the trail, pedestrians always have the right of way, always pass on the left, don’t inhibit your ability to hear those around you by listening to loud music, announce your presence with a bell or saying “On your Left” when passing, always maintain proper speed so you are always in control. Here are some other etiquette tips. Michigan has lots of great biking trails. You can start with these.
  • Each person, apart from young children, should be equipped with a whistle and a flashlight when heading out on a hiking trail or water trail.
  • Use all appropriate safety equipment depending on the activity you’re involved with.
  • Sunscreen and bug repellent will help keep everybody comfortable and, in the case of mosquitoes and ticks, free of bites and disease.
  • If you have a dog, make sure he or she is healthy and up to date on vaccinations and can endure the activities set before them, whether it’s swimming or hiking.
  • When on the water or at the beach, make sure there are age-appropriate flotation devices. Watch the weather and look to the lifeguard stations for notice of currents and rip tides. Do not go swimming if advised not to.

 

Driving/Travel Safety

  • Children and young toddlers who still require a strapped in car seat or booster seat should ride in a travel vehicle rather than in an RV. The reason? Motorized RVs, though they have seatbelts, often don’t offer the forward-facing configuration or anchor points, and the seats themselves are not as securely fastened to the floor as in traditional vehicles. Certain Class B (campervan) and Class C motorhomes may be exempt from this as they are built on a regular van/truck chassis.
  • Make sure all lights are working properly, tire pressure is checked, and adjust the mirrors prior to departure. For a more thorough explanation of how to manage your RV’s tires, read this article.
  • Never drive under the influence.
  • When driving in windy weather, you need to take extra precautions because your RV is one of the largest or longest on the road. You want to protect your investment as well as ensure the safety of those with you and around you. So, in windy weather, regardless of the season in which it occurs, it’s important to slow down, keep both hands on the wheel, and pull off if you aren’t comfortable or need a rest.