Would we pay for it ?

[bigbilly]

I went to a local caravan dearlers yesterday to replace a 1m X 1M fire blanket after giving mine to my son and a new fire extinguisher. Both items together less than £30. I actually used my fire extinguisher a few weeks ago when an elderly (not exactly young myself !) couple next to me on a rally had smoke bellowing from their battery box. It later transpired to be a badly looked after lead from a solar panel but the damage would have been a lot worse if nobody had been around.

Shouldn't things like fire extinguishers be fitted as standard ? I doubt if many of us would notice £30 on the vans price. Perhaps some are ???

My van is already equiped with electric roof light, microwave, stainless steel paper towel holder, 6 condiment holders and a radio controlled combined clock and weather centre.

Are the priorities right ?

Bill

 

[ajmacintosh]

What a very good point!

I absolutely agree.

 

[Mel]

I agree. I think it is ridiculous that some caravans come without a spare wheel. Renders them immediatly unroad worthy. The other thing that is really annoying is the fact that having spent

 

[Surfer]

Basically it does not conform to SOGA if the caravan cannot be operate without a battery. This is a grey area. Would you but a new car without a battery? A caravan is defined as a mobile home but it cannot be used as a home until it is hooked up. You cannot use the cooker until you insert a gas bottle into the supply line. Methinks we are being taking for a ride by dealers.

 

[Essexeddie]

A battery could well be fitted at a price I would have thought.

The difference with a car is that you need a battery to drive it away, but with a caravan you dont.

Its as broad as its long, either way you buy a battery.

Gas cylinders, well most people have their own.

Edd

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

It is all very well fitting a fire extinguisher in a caravan / house, but how many people would be able to use it & use it correctly?

We teach people how to use extinguishers & the first thing we do is set a fire & tell them to get an extinguisher & put the fire out.

After a few mins of reading labels they often take the wrong one & make the fire worse.

The Fire Service recommend get out, stay out, & get the brigade out.

Far better to claim on insurance for property loss than claim for loss of life.

Have you seen the mess a dry powder extinguisher leaves behind after use. You never get rid of it.

G.

 

[ajmacintosh]

Mel,

I forgot about the battery! well said!

Graham,

Good point about the use of extinguishers..but, I for one would rather have the choice of tackling the fire or legging it to the hills. In my opinion, the end user has to take responsibility for being adept in using whatever safety appliances are available to them. The point is, they should be made standard kit on all Caravans and Motorhomes.

Andrew

 

[LMH]

QUOTE 'The Fire Service recommend get out, stay out, & get the brigade out' UNQUOTE.

A statement I made several months ago and got slated for it.

People don't seem to realise that caravans go up like good uns in a few minutes.

Lisa

 

[Surfer]

A battery could well be fitted at a price I would have thought.

The difference with a car is that you need a battery to drive it away, but with a caravan you dont.

Its as broad as its long, either way you buy a battery.

Gas cylinders, well most people have their own.

Edd

I beg to differ. If you have a motor mover fitted you need a battery to drive it away to hitch up

 

[rob_jax]

Total agreement with Graham and Lisa - if you discover a fire, get out and stay out - with the proviso that if you can safely deal with the very initial stages of the fire then do so. If you can throw a fire blanket over the burning frying pan - then do so.

But catching the fire in the early stages really does mean having the right equipment immediately and safely on hand - the correct positioning of a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher are too important to leave in the hands of the owner.

So the caravan manufacturer really should design these fire safety items into the structure of the caravan.

Robert

A final thought - in my professional career as a chemist / chemical engineer and having fought half a dozen "exotic" fires in refinery laboratories and pilot plants - exit planning, training, and the correct choice of extinguishing agent is so very important to your safety.

And even large extinguishers don't last that long - so I'd rather not trust one of the home use extinguishers for anything other than the first few seconds of a fire.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

My point is if you think you are capable of dealing with a fire buy an extinguisher & deal with it.

Most people if caught in a fire situation with their adrenalin pumping will be prone to panic putting their lives in danger & the lives of rescuers.

If the manufacturers fit extinguishers the customer then uses it & it goes pear shaped, can you sue the manufacturer because you wer'nt shown how to use the extinguisher ?????

We live in a blame culture, look how the parents of that lad who drowned the other week are blaming the wannabe cops for not jumping in the lake to recue their son.

Then look at the situation in Portugal yesterday, where several adults drowned trying to save those kids.

I still say if you think you can put a fire out buy an extinguisher but they should not come with a caravan, better to have a spare wheel & jack.

G.

 

[ajmacintosh]

Well well,

I cant believe what i read. Next you will be saying they should not supply a jack and spare wheel just incase the caravan falls on you whilst changing a wheel?

The point is this. If there is an extinguisher and/or fire blanket supplied with a caravan, You have a CHOICE to tackle the fire or not. Just because there is one installed does not make it obligatory to tackle the inferno.

 

[ajmacintosh]

Oops...sorry i sounded a bit harsh them. Didnt mean it to come out like that.

Andrew

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Cheers Andrew,

No offence taken.

Thank God we all have our own oppinions. Be boring if we all thought the same. )

G.