Caravanning

Are you hitching up and getting ready to head off on holiday? Have a happy and safe holiday, take a look at our top tips to help make sure you and your family have happy memories. 

Is your caravan roadworthy?

Regular servicing and maintenance of your caravan will make sure it is roadworthy helping to get your holiday off to a good start by helping to keep you and other road users safe.  

Before setting off ACT and check your tyres air pressure, Condition and Tread. Watch out for the signs of perishing. There may still be plenty of tread still left on the tyres but perished tyres are still unsafe due to the increased risk of a tyre blow out or rapid loss of air in the tyres. 

• Perished tyres have cracks that appear like 'crazy paving', with lots of tiny hairline cracks running this way and that, noticeable on the wall of the tyre, near the rim, where tread pattern begins or between the groves in tread.
• The tyres are the only part of the caravan which is in contact with the road surface. With such an important role, it is essential that tyres are properly maintained and regular checks are carried out. Want to know what to look for? Visit the caravan page on TyreSafe.org

• Having a working smoke alarm in your caravan is just as important as having one in your home.
• Fit a smoke alarm and make sure it works before each holiday.

Fit a carbon monoxide alarm

• You can’t see, feel or smell carbon monoxide but it can be fatal if you breathe it in.
• Fit a carbon monoxide alarm and make sure it works before each holiday. This will detect a leak in your caravan and give out a high-pitched noise when gas levels are high.
• You can buy them from a DIY or hardware store. Audible alarms are designed and tested for use in homes, but most are also portable and suitable for use in caravans. Visit our carbon monoxide advice page for further guidance on alarms.

Happy caravanning

• Park caravans at least six metres apart and away from parked cars, other caravans and tents.
• If you smoke use metal ashtrays and never smoke in bed.
• Only store safety matches. Vibration could set off non-safety matches.
• Make sure the cooker is not left unattended.
• Never use a cooker or heater whilst your caravan is moving.
• Make sure all appliances are turned off before you leave the caravan or go to bed.
• Don’t block air vents. If any leaking gas builds up you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape.
• Make sure furnishings and foam insulation are ‘fire-retardant’, which means they don’t catch fire easily.

Barbecuing

• Make sure your cooking area is well away from the caravan and awing.
• Never place a barbecue in your awning.
  
  • A warm, smouldering barbecue gives off plenty of poisonous carbon monoxide.
  • In an enclosed space like an awning carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels very quickly.

Safe handling of gas cylinders

• Install a gas detection system, if possible.
• If you think there is a gas leak, turn off all appliances and the main cylinder valve. Open all the doors and windows.
• Change gas cylinders only when they are completely empty.
• Make sure the new cylinder is secure before connecting it.
• When changing cylinders, make sure all cylinder valves are turned off before disconnecting.

In case the worst ever happens make sure

• That you have an escape plan and share this with everyone.
• You know what the fire arrangements on the camp site are and where the nearest telephone is.
• Everyone knows how to escape danger, where the fire nearest fire point and how to make an emergency call.
• In the event of a fire get everyone out straight away. Call the fire and rescue service and give your location.