Community Forums

**CLIFFTALL** · 04-21-2011, 10:47 AM

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 · 04-21-2011, 02:41 PM

Hey Cliff,

Good to know and thanks for sharing.

Steve

ctpres · 04-21-2011, 03:27 PM

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 · 04-21-2011, 04:00 PM

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 · 04-21-2011, 04:12 PM

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 · 04-21-2011, 09:54 PM

Good information. Thanks Cliff.

John_N_Terry · 04-21-2011, 09:58 PM

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 · 04-22-2011, 05:18 AM

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** · 04-22-2011, 07:06 AM

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.

SarahW · 07-02-2013, 01:29 PM

Bumping because this is a valuable thread, even if Cliff did post it.

MSHappyCampers · 07-02-2013, 04:28 PM

Good advice Cliff! Below is a link to my earlier post on this subject. Since that post I made the decision that the ladder that hangs down is just not practical in my case since the emergency window is in a slideout. I removed the rope ladder from the part that hangs over the window, so in case of fire I will hang the aluminum hand-rails over the window and use that to hold on to while sliding out and dropping to the ground. JMHO!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/escap...ks-154476.html

**CLIFFTALL** · 07-02-2013, 04:40 PM

Thanks Joe. I think that any post that brings awareness to this is most valuable. I was a Boy Scout ( be prepared was our motto )

bdickson · 07-02-2013, 08:06 PM

Been reading the posts about having a stick available to prop the emergency window open. Any reason why I couldn't install gas props on it? Mine is not the breakaway type, it has regular hinges along the top edge.

RanCarr · 07-03-2013, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

Bumping because this is a valuable thread, even if Cliff did post it.

Getting out of the "escape" window in our Heartland NT would be almost impossible for anyone but a slender agile person. It's so high up that most seniors wouldn't make it, wouldn't be able to get their leg over the sill. Are we supposed to drop out headfirst? Land on our heads? And if you're a few pounds overweight.... forget it. I believe some of these RVs are real fire traps. The escape window in our old Ford Dutchman Class-C is much bigger and more suitable to escape from, even for a senior a little on the hefty side.