Safety First: Must-Have Emergency Items for RV Camping

Embarking on an adventure in your RV is always an exciting time. The anticipation of what lies ahead on your road trip always provides an adrenaline rush. However, to ensure your holiday is fun and stress-free, it’s a good idea to take some precautions before hitting the road.

To help you with this, this article highlights some must-have emergency items for RV camping that you should have in your arsenal - just in case you need them.

A first-aid kit

You should always have a first aid kit in your RV in case of minor emergencies and injuries. The contents of first aid kits vary depending on whether it's a basic kit, or a more advanced one. At the bare minimum you'll want the following in your kit:

• Adhesive tape
• Bandages
• Gauze
• Band-Aids
• An elastic bandage
• Antiseptic wipes
• Sunburn cream
• Pain killers such a paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Scissors & Tweezers
• A thermometer
• Insect repellent
• A torch & spare batteries
• Alcohol, disinfectant and saline solution
• A first aid manual
• Emergency phone numbers

As you use items in the kit, be sure to replace them to keep the kit fully stocked for your next adventure. You can also periodically add items to the kit to make it more comprehensive.

Along with the kit in your RV, you'll also want a basic, smaller, portable first aid kit that you can carry with you when going on hikes and tracking through forest trails. You never know when someone might suffer an injury, so it's important to have at least the bare essentials with you at all times.

Physical Maps and guides

Keeping maps and guides in your RV for the areas you are travelling is essential. While it's great to rely on guidance from a GPS if something does happen to your GPS and it ceases to function for whatever reason, at least you'll have some hard-copy maps and guidebooks to give you directions. The last thing you'll want is to get lost if travelling off the beaten track in Australia's outback regions.

Diesel air heater

Even during summer, some parts of the country can get chilly after dark, and if you're venturing out and about in winter, it's bound to get cold.

It's wise to have your RV fitted with a top-quality diesel-powered air heater to fight off the chill and keep everyone warm and comfortable at night. It’s not always possible to be outside huddled up around a campfire, as lighting fires is often prohibited depending on where you are and the current fire danger level.

Lithium jump starter with power bank

While it's wise to always carry a set of robust jump starter cables in case you need a jump start from another vehicle, for even more autonomy out on the open road and extra security, purchase a lithium jump starter with a power bank.

Keep the power bank fully charged, and if you ever need to jump-start your petrol or diesel RV, simply attach the cables of your lithium jump starter to the battery terminals, and power will be delivered to the battery via the power bank. You'll be back on the road in no time.

Water purification tablets

These tablets are essential for keeping your stored water in pristine condition and safe to drink. Periodically add them to your water tanks to ensure water is always fresh and potable. Unpleasant odours and taste are also removed from the water with chlorine dioxide tablets.

Also, if you’re forced to source water from a stream or water hole, be sure to boil the water to kill any parasites and add a water purification tablet to be doubly sure the water is safe to drink.

Solar power

Living and travelling in a sunburnt country, there is usually no shortage of UV rays available to power up batteries, appliances, phones and other gadgets with solar power. Before embarking on your next journey, install a solar panel and solar power in your RV. You can use it as a backup source of electricity to conserve battery power, and it's also an essential power source you'll have available in the event of an emergency.

A fire blanket

Having a fire blanket in your RV safety and emergency kit really is mandatory. It's a simple piece of kit that could potentially save your RV from damage and, more importantly, save lives. This type of fire blanket is designed for kitchens. If you're cooking and something on the stove catches fire, simply drop the blanket on top, and the fire is immediately extinguished.

You can also purchase fire blankets that are designed to smother flames if someone’s clothing catches on fire. However, this is a different type of fire blanket from the one designed for putting out kitchen fires.

Fire extinguisher

Along with having a fire blanket on board, you'll also want at least one fire extinguisher in case a fire breaks out, either inside the RV or on your campsite. A small fire extinguisher doesn’t cost much, yet it’s a piece of emergency equipment that could prove to be a lifesaver.

Compressed air tyre inflator

You can buy tyre inflators that are attached to a can of compressed air. If you end up with a deflated tyre, yet the tyre itself isn’t damaged, you can readily top up the air in one or more of your tyres with this very simple and easy-to-use device. Don’t risk driving around unknown roads and terrain on underinflated tyres. You’ll always have the tyre pressure you need with a portable compressed air tyre inflator.

Have a spare LPG tank and gas regulator

Many RVs in Australia are fitted with LPG gas to power appliances, including stove tops and even ovens. LPG gas can come in handy in other ways too when you’re out on the road. Therefore, it’s good to have a backup tank of LPG, along with a gas regulator.

You can use the gas to cook food on a portable gas cooker when you set up camp or use it for emergency backup if you lose electricity for some reason. At least you’ll still be able to cook food, boil drinking water and provide some form of rudimentary light source.

Always carry a supply of tools

A well-stocked toolkit is a must have in your RV. Exactly what tools you’ll need will depend on what you have on board and the things you plan to do while on your trip. You’ll want at least a basic set of tools that provides everything required to perform maintenance or repairs on your RV and its appliances and accessories.

Tools also come in handy for setting up camp, digging holes and trenches, cutting wood for a fire and many more practical uses. Never set off on a road trip without having a half-decent toolkit on board. The right tool can get you out of a tight spot.

Backup rechargeable batteries

Ensure you have power backup in place by equipping your RV with a second or third rechargeable lithium 12v battery. These batteries will meet your electricity needs on and off grid. They provide efficient performance and reliable power storage and can even be charged via your solar power system.

You can never have too many power sources at your disposal when journeying into the great unknown, and having a powerful battery backup can save your bacon in an emergency.

Carbon monoxide alarm

Just as a smoke alarm can save lives, so too can a carbon monoxide alarm. You really need these devices when living and sleeping in confined spaces such as those found inside an RV. During winter, they are even more essential as heating is used and more cooking is often carried out.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous and highly toxic gas that kills. What makes it even more dangerous is it has no smell, taste or colour, so it’s extremely hard for a person to detect a leak. However, carbon monoxide gas detectors can detect even the slightest presence of this noxious gas, so always have one inside your RV.

We’ve got you covered for emergency equipment and supplies

Going on a camping adventure is meant to be fun, exciting and memorable. However, mishaps and emergencies can occur, so always have emergency equipment on hand.

At RV Parts Express, we stock a range of emergency camping essentials in our online store, so browse our website, purchase what you need and give yourself complete peace of mind when you embark on your next adventure.