Recreational Vehicle safety encompasses a lot of things. It begins with making sure your recreational vehicle is ready to run. A quick stop at your local mechanic can have things ready to go, or you can check the basics yourself. Don’t forget to check tire pressure, windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, oil, batteries and lights. Beyond that, there are a few things to know to stay safe when camping or exploring in a recreational vehicle.
There are areas in our National Parks and Forests, even in our own back yards that are considered wild. In wild areas, you might encounter wild animals. These animals generally do not understand what friendly human interaction is. In most cases, the animal will feel fear when they see you and may react in a couple of different ways – they may run or they may attack. Grizzly bears are known for their gruesome attacks on people when they have become used to food, or simply feel as if a human is a threat. This year, several people have lost their lives or been injured by grizzly bears. When animals associate people with food, they tend to become more aggressive in order to get what they want.
This is not always an obvious attack, such as a camper sleeping with a pizza box on his or her chest. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and as such, can be drawn to items such as deodorant and toothpaste. And bears are strong. They can rip open the door of a car or Recreational Vehicle if the food motivation is strong enough. In order to protect yourself, be sure to store food in a bear locker or in a bear canister. Check with rangers if you are at a National Park to find out where bear incidents have been common in the past and stay away from those areas.
Animals generally hunt and encounter humans during the dawn or dusk. Running might make you appear as prey to a mountain lion or grizzly bear. Remember, they have very keen ‘chase instincts.’ Mountain lion attacks generally happen when humans encroach on their hunting habitat, or years where deer are scare and it’s hard for them to find food.
If you are out during these hours, hike at a steady pace. Children should be kept close, within eyesight. Crowds tend to deter animals from attacking. Dogs should also be kept close or on a leash. Their innocent explorations might draw a mountain lion towards you.
Layers of clothing are always important on any backcountry excursion. Weather changes quickly. In the coarse of an hours, you may go from 70 degrees and sunny to a hailstorm. If you don’t have the right clothing, hypothermia could set in. In the Rocky Mountains, snowstorms can hit up until July and again in early September. In desert climates, dehydration can become a concern. Take lots of water no matter where you are. Keep matches with you in case you need to start a fire for warmth or as a signal for help.
In the olden days, people traveled with a map and a compass. Why? Because they are reliable when GPS units fail. Whether it’s on your car or a handheld, GPS’ are not always going to work. If you get caught out in the backcountry and the GPS unit fails and you don’t know where you are – that’s trouble. Keep an eye out for interesting rock formations or trees as you go so you can make your way back if you need to. Always have a map and compass and know how to use them. These can save your life.
No matter where you choose to spend your Recreational vehicle vacation, stay safe. Know the terrain, know what animals are potential threats – bears, mountain lions, mice, and snakes and do your best to prevent an encounter. Be sure to have lots of layers, water and matches in case you do get lost. Let someone know where you plan on being and have fun. It’s wild out there!
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