Fire Escape Hint

[Clifftall]

With all the threads and fear of fire due to Norcold and Dometic refrigerators , I thought I'd pass along something I learned from attending Mac The Fire Guy's seminar at an FMCA rally.

If you have an emergency window in the bedroom that pushes out and lifts up as I do, it is most difficult to try and escape from it.

Mac suggests measuring the window amount needed for you to get out ( push it out and measure it from the bottom of the frame to the bottom of the extended window ). In my case it's 30". I cut two 1" x 2" 30" pieces of wood and keep them on the vanity at all times. These act as supports to hold the window open and allows you to maneuver out. He also suggests you throw the bed spread over the frame bottom so as not to tear up your body on the way out.

Hope no one ever needs to use it , but it may help save you and your loved ones some day.

[The General]

Hey Cliff,

Good to know and thanks for sharing.


Steve

[ctpres]

I know every once and $ counts, but, a built-in snap latch to hold in up position would be easy. Any window mfg's reading?

[gripper]

What also would be good, would be a rope ladder, with some type of hooks to connect the ladder over the window sill, that one could unroll and drop it over the side. It's a long way to the ground from there. If you have any disabilities, it would be very diffcult to just "drop over" the side. I think I will be surfing the net and try to find one.

[wa8yxm]

I have such a window, It opens from the bottom and swings up. I've used it.

Though I do admit it was NOT that kind of emergency (The dang door latch broke and there was no other way out) I do know things are different when seconds count and there are only a few of them left.

[Wayne M]

Good information. Thanks Cliff.

[John_N_Terry]

Interesting...however, the walls of most RVs are pretty thin. If my life or someone else's life is in danger...I'd bet I could make a new hole...

[paz]

If you decide to make supports for your escape window, be careful - some of the windows release at the top and are designed to fall away. Hang onto the window the first time you open it and don't open it too far just in case you have one of the windows that releases.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz If you decide to make supports for your escape window, be careful - some of the windows release at the top and are designed to fall away. Hang onto the window the first time you open it and don't open it too far just in case you have one of the windows that releases.

Interesting as I would think that set up would be for commercial vehicles like buses. But good point to look out for.