Camping in Your RV for the Fourth of July? Do it Safely

The Fourth of July is one of the quintessential summer holidays when friends and family gather to celebrate America’s independence. Our forefathers fought to secure our rights and liberties, and with burgers and hot dogs on the grill and cold beverages in hand, we salute them. And there’s no better way to take advantage of the holiday than with a road trip in your rig to get out there and experience the beautiful outdoors that our great country has to offer. While being outside is wonderful, relaxing with loved ones is invigorating, and partaking in food and drinks is fun, it is still important to keep safety in mind when you’re camping in your RV. So whether you’re out enjoying the majesty of the mountains, the waves of grain, or the shining seas, keep these tips in mind to ensure a safe and memorable Fourth of July:

• Stay hydrated – Parking your rig and exploring nature over the holiday weekend should be at the top of your to-do list, but make sure that you and your family have plenty of water to drink throughout each day. The dangers of dehydration are real when spending long days in the sun and sweating, so be sure to frequently replace the fluids your body will lose. Limit intake of sodas and alcohol and drink lots of water.
• Carefully monitor water play – A summer RV getaway isn’t the same without swimming, tubing, boating, and other water activities, but be vigilant about water safety. Behaving carelessly or roughhousing in the water, getting caught in a strong riptide, or sharing the water with drunken boaters can increase the risk for drowning and accidents. As such, enforce the use life vests, especially on children; watch kids who are playing in and around water closely; and remind everyone of the risks of drowning.
• Be extremely cautious with fires, fireworks, and sparklers – Most campers exercise safety when making campfires, but the same caution – if not more so – should be applied when using fireworks and sparklers. In the state of Florida, you can buy fireworks, but setting them off is illegal. That doesn’t stop most people from using fireworks, however. If you plan to be one of those people, check the laws and regulations regarding fireworks wherever you’ll be staying and understand the safety and legal risks you’ll be taking. Never forget that fireworks are dangerous and can cause harm to you, anyone who uses them, and even people standing buy. Supervise children playing with sparklers and make sure that all activity involving those items is far from combustible items, materials, and liquids.
• Keep food covered and at the proper temperature when outside – It’s a less common safety concern, but because of the risk of food poisoning (which can be a devastating condition to endure), you shouldn’t leave foods outside for more than an hour, particularly if the temperature is 90 degrees or above. So during your campground cookout, keep mayonnaise-based food items (think macaroni and potato salads) covered and iced or in coolers if you’ll be outside. It’s a good idea to fully cook meats, too, and use different cooking utensils for handling raw meat and cooked meat to avoid cross contamination.

Wherever you plan to set up camp in your RV, following these tips will help you enjoy the Fourth of July safely. Have questions about summer travel in an RV? Contact us today!