Be safe on your caravan holiday this summer and follow these tips
The summer months are here and it’s pretty true that – despite the odd bit of drizzle – many people are enjoying the warm weather. However, whether it is caravanning, cooking, or travelling, one fire service is urging people to stay safe this summer.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, in partnership with the Fire Kills campaign, has compiled a series of tips to ensure people stay safe and reduce the risk of fires while enjoying the great outdoors this summer.
BFRS Arson Reduction Officer, Andy Martin stated that a hot summer is what everyone hopes for, but unfortunately it can bring its own risks.
Martin said: “If you’re intending to take out your tent, ready your rucksack or get your caravan back on the road, you should go armed with some safety advice before heading for the great outdoors.”
For those who intend to camp outdoors, the fire service have also urged caravanners to leave at least six meters spacing between their caravans and tents and to pitch up away from parked cars in order to reduce the risk of fire spreading.
Meanwhile, if you are cooking, caravanners have been warned to keep appliances away from awnings and tent walls and never cook inside a small tent or near flammable materials or long grass. It is also important to not use candles or smoke in or near a tent.
In case there of fire, people should be able to know how to escape from their leisure vehicle of tent, whilst, for those who plan on taking their caravans out, it is important to make sure you have a working smoke alarm and take extra precautions while cooking.
The fire service also advised that people make sure they remove any litter and rubbish near to the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading and to make sure their caravans are well ventilated.
For those who plan on having open fires, people should make sure they’re downhill and at least 10 meters any flammable materials. It is also important to never leave fires unattended. Further advice included building a stack that will fall inwards whilst a fire is burning and to always make sure it is fully extinguished after use.
Although most of these tips are common sense, it’s always good to have a reminder before you set off on your summer holiday.
