Medical, Fire or Police Emergency
This is something we all need in our “toolbox.”
Having been in the Fire Service in a very rural area for over 32 years I can tell you that just finding the location of the incident is more than half the battle. I always told the people I mentored, you must know your area! Once you find the location, your training will carry you through the rest of the incident.
While we always had great “run book” maps and tried to keep them updated there were always deficiencies. Many times the run book would get us to the general location but not to the specific address. A common example of this is a campground or RV park. While we got to the “front door” so to speak, we didn’t know the exact campsite or space within the park that we were going to. This is especially critical at night (after dark). Especially if all of the people involved are inside the RV attending to the patient, fire, etc.
So where am I going with all this? There’s a way to help responding personnel find you faster and increase your chances of survival in a medical, fire, or police emergency.
All you do is make your RV’s lights flash! Here is the most simple way to do this:
• Use a 12V 552/536 flasher (see pic below) plugged into your trailer cord.
• Tell the 911 dispatcher (when you call) that the incoming units should look for the RV with the flashing lights.
• Send anyone not involved with the direct control of the problem out to the street to help lead in the Emergency Services Responders.
Here’s how I took care of the first objective:
Buy a 552/536 flasher (about $4) and tape it to the trailer tongue or king pin bracket. Mark the outside of the tape to make sure your family can find it in an emergency.
Mark the trailer cord-end so that there is no confusion as to where to plug it in. Simply plug the flasher prongs into the marked holes on the trailer plug.
