Emergency Exits and Lockouts- What to Do from Someone Who Knows!
02-12-2016
Author: in RVing Ruminations by Russel
P.T. Barnum's American Museum, a five story building in New York City housed oddities from around the world gathered over 25 years by the great showman. People would go to it and often spend all day there, often making it difficult for new paying customers to enter. Barnum helped alleviate this by posting signs that said “This way to the Egress.” People, not realizing “egress” was just a fancy word for exit, would follow the signs and soon find themselves outside with a locked door behind them, requiring another admission fee if they wished to be readmitted.
We are used to using doors to access and exit our RV's—the perfect egress. But in an emergency, such as a traffic accident or fire, that door may be blocked or jammed—what then? RV's and trailers, by law, are required to have egress windows. You and everyone traveling with you, should know where they are located and how they function. They are designed so that in an emergency a full grown adult can get through them and they are normally marked EMERGENCY EXIT. Some ceiling vents are designed for the same purpose. Ideally there should be an egress window on both sides and the back, particularly in sleeping areas.
It is a good idea, not only to acquaint everyone with the operation of the latch, but also to actually practice exiting a time or two. Keep in mind that in an emergency you may need to do that in the dark. Also, in the event of an accident, the window may be at an odd angle. And of course, in a worst case scenario, any glass may be employed if you are able to break it. Glass these days is very tough stuff, so if you need to resort to that, choose something very heavy to hit it with, and hit it hard! If you can find something shaped like a ball peen hammer all the better.
There are tools made for breaking car windows that usually incorporate a blade for cutting seat belts. There are many different designs. Choose one that is simple. In an emergency, the less complicated the better. Normally these are carried in cars or other vehicles; they are quite inexpensive so having a couple is not out of the question. Here is a video showing one type in action .On an icy road last winter, my neighbor was driving a van and skidded off the road. The van landed upside down in a ditch. He hung there for about an hour before being discovered. In order for this tool to be of value, it must be accessible. Many have a Velcro holder to place them in a spot that you are likely to be able to get to. It will do you no good in most cases if it is simply thrown in the glove box.
If you should land in water, of course, a different set of protocols should be followed. Rather than going into the details of that in this limited space, I suggest you follow this link and internalize the advice given there.
All this talk about exiting has lead me to one small tip about entering that I have been wondering how to work in to a post for some time. It has happened to us all, usually when we're in a hurry. We lock ourselves out of our RV or tow vehicle. Sure, many of us have services that cover lock outs, and if we have cell phone service when it happens, we can call a local locksmith, usually a rather expensive solution. One's spouse has an extra set (handy if one is with that spouse at the time.)
The solution I have come to use gets rid of most of the vexation and inconvenience if, or better, when I find myself in that situation. There are small highly magnetic boxes designed so that keys fit into them that can be attached so some invisible place on the outside of your rig. They are very inexpensive and truly are worth every penny—you may even want two of them—one for the RV and one for the other vehicle. I try to find a place, usually behind the front bumper that is easy enough to reach without crawling underneath the vehicle and if possible in a “pocket” kind of space in the configuration. It is a good idea to have keys for the doors of both vehicles, and if you have two, put one in each vehicle. Make sure those traveling with you for any length of time know the location. They are available nearly everywhere, parts stores will almost surely have them. Here is a link that will give you an idea of the variety of styles available.
It has been my experience that even very bumpy roads will not dislodge them, although when I rather gently rear ended another car in a rain storm, it did come loose and scatter the keys on the highway.
Here is hoping that all your egresses and ingresses happen by ordinary methods, but if not you will remember something helpful from your reading here. We at MobileRVing.com and your fellow campers would love to hear of your experiences, so please share them in the comment section below.
Until next time, walk in beauty and keep it between the ditches,
Russel
We are used to using doors to access and exit our RV's—the perfect egress. But in an emergency, such as a traffic accident or fire, that door may be blocked or jammed—what then? RV's and trailers, by law, are required to have egress windows. You and everyone traveling with you, should know where they are located and how they function. They are designed so that in an emergency a full grown adult can get through them and they are normally marked EMERGENCY EXIT. Some ceiling vents are designed for the same purpose. Ideally there should be an egress window on both sides and the back, particularly in sleeping areas.
It is a good idea, not only to acquaint everyone with the operation of the latch, but also to actually practice exiting a time or two. Keep in mind that in an emergency you may need to do that in the dark. Also, in the event of an accident, the window may be at an odd angle. And of course, in a worst case scenario, any glass may be employed if you are able to break it. Glass these days is very tough stuff, so if you need to resort to that, choose something very heavy to hit it with, and hit it hard! If you can find something shaped like a ball peen hammer all the better.
There are tools made for breaking car windows that usually incorporate a blade for cutting seat belts. There are many different designs. Choose one that is simple. In an emergency, the less complicated the better. Normally these are carried in cars or other vehicles; they are quite inexpensive so having a couple is not out of the question. Here is a video showing one type in action .On an icy road last winter, my neighbor was driving a van and skidded off the road. The van landed upside down in a ditch. He hung there for about an hour before being discovered. In order for this tool to be of value, it must be accessible. Many have a Velcro holder to place them in a spot that you are likely to be able to get to. It will do you no good in most cases if it is simply thrown in the glove box.
If you should land in water, of course, a different set of protocols should be followed. Rather than going into the details of that in this limited space, I suggest you follow this link and internalize the advice given there.
All this talk about exiting has lead me to one small tip about entering that I have been wondering how to work in to a post for some time. It has happened to us all, usually when we're in a hurry. We lock ourselves out of our RV or tow vehicle. Sure, many of us have services that cover lock outs, and if we have cell phone service when it happens, we can call a local locksmith, usually a rather expensive solution. One's spouse has an extra set (handy if one is with that spouse at the time.)
The solution I have come to use gets rid of most of the vexation and inconvenience if, or better, when I find myself in that situation. There are small highly magnetic boxes designed so that keys fit into them that can be attached so some invisible place on the outside of your rig. They are very inexpensive and truly are worth every penny—you may even want two of them—one for the RV and one for the other vehicle. I try to find a place, usually behind the front bumper that is easy enough to reach without crawling underneath the vehicle and if possible in a “pocket” kind of space in the configuration. It is a good idea to have keys for the doors of both vehicles, and if you have two, put one in each vehicle. Make sure those traveling with you for any length of time know the location. They are available nearly everywhere, parts stores will almost surely have them. Here is a link that will give you an idea of the variety of styles available.
It has been my experience that even very bumpy roads will not dislodge them, although when I rather gently rear ended another car in a rain storm, it did come loose and scatter the keys on the highway.
Here is hoping that all your egresses and ingresses happen by ordinary methods, but if not you will remember something helpful from your reading here. We at MobileRVing.com and your fellow campers would love to hear of your experiences, so please share them in the comment section below.
Until next time, walk in beauty and keep it between the ditches,
Russel
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Author: Russel Micnhimer
