Sioux Falls, SD – It’s a busy Labor Day weekend across South Dakota. Whether at the State Fair in Huron, the LifeLight music festival in Worthing or just enjoying some family fun at the lake, many people are camping out on this final weekend of summer.
But as some LifeLight campers can tell you, there are some important safety tips to keep in mind if you’re taking the RV out this holiday weekend.
“My parents went out to set up the camper; they told us not to leave the generator on overnight but we did,” Andrew Shumake said.
Last year, Andrew and his friends encountered an incredibly dangerous situation while camping out at LifeLight.
“Overnight the camper got carbon monoxide in it and the next morning we were all really sick feeling…one of the guys, he kind of just collapsed and he was just unconscious on the floor and then my friend got up to check on him and he collapsed too,” Shumake said.
Luckily all of the boys made it out OK after some nearby campers called 9-1-1.
“We just feel really blessed and have really come to understand how fragile life can be,” Shumake said.
Just like in your home, the furnace, stove and other propane-powered appliances inside an RV can leak carbon monoxide.
“Always have your furnace inspected probably yearly and check your heat exchange to make sure its not cracked,” Tony Spader with Spader’s RV said.
But most importantly, all campers should have a working carbon monoxide detector.
“If they’re getting old it’s a good idea to come in and buy a new one and change your old one, but especially make sure the batteries are good,” Spader said.
It’s a simple safety device that can prevent another dangerous situation.
“We did not have a carbon monoxide detector, we probably do now though,” Shumake said.
If you’re out at the LifeLight festival Saturday, Shumake and his friends will be sharing their story of surviving that potentially deadly experience.
As for other campers, Spader says the end of Labor Day weekend is a great chance to have your furnace inspected before storing your RV over the winter.