Emergency escape window height

I suppose that these ladders are OK if you were somehow locked in; but in a true emergency, especially a fire, you will have no time to deploy anything. If the fire is significant enough that your only option is the emergency window you will be blinded by the smoke and you will be choking and unable to breath from the toxic fumes. You will only have seconds to live. Your only chance is to open the window, shove the family members out and dive out yourself. Will there be injuries? Probably. But they and you will be alive. In a true emergency seconds count.

Someone a while back bought an escape ladder and posted the results of the time it took to use it. I remember it was useless on a 5th wheel front bedroom window. It swung under the overhang when they tried it. So unless you have a strong grip and sense of mind,you can end up with your leg in between the rungs and your body upside down or flat on your back.

On a recent camping trip I was opening all the windows for fresh air. I discovered that our two escape windows are the hardest to open. Go figure! I doubt very seriously if I needed to go out the window that I would have time to fiddle with a ladder by the time I got the darn window open. I plan to jump and pray for the best. I think adrenaline will be so high that I may not notice any injury for a while. The ladder is a good idea if you actually have time to use it.

I bought the Kidde ladder at Lowes, Removed extra steps at ground level. I store the ladder in it's original box, attached with HD Velcro to the foot of the bed next to the window. (under the mattress overhang) Plan to use a pillow or blanket over window edge.
Previous discussions mention getting familiar with how the escape window opens, some pop out -some are hinged at the top and are hard to egress if the window is not braced open. Windows that are not occasionally exercised may be very difficult to open.

Thats_Ok wrote:
Mmmmm...

If the coach is on fire I'm going to toss the wife and the dawgs out the nearest window or access.
IMO there won't be much time to fiddle with a ladder.

Keep a battery in the smoke detector, regularly test the gas detector.
Make sure a good large sized extinguisher is close at hand where you are sleeping.
We choose not to deadbolt the entry door at night also.

Jump and roll...

Absolutely the best advice!

Mmmmm...

If the coach is on fire I'm going to toss the wife and the dawgs out the nearest window or access.
IMO there won't be much time to fiddle with a ladder.

Keep a battery in the smoke detector, regularly test the gas detector.
Make sure a good large sized extinguisher is close at hand where you are sleeping.
We choose not to deadbolt the entry door at night also.

Jump and roll...

last summer I was living in my camper in a driveway in NY. I opened the door to my camper to let the male dog out, the female snuck out between my legs unleashed and the male who was on a 30 foot leash on a reel took off after her. I had a second to consider my options. I could have let go and risked the dogs getting killed by running into traffic, but as long as I had control of one dog the other would not stray too far. I knew that when the male reached the end of the leash I would be off balance and be pulled from the top step of the camper. I made a decision to sacrifice injury to my body to lessen the rick of my dogs getting killed. That decision put me in bed for about three weeks. Between the bad knees and arthritis all over my body any type of fall is going to be painful and take a long time to recover from. Maybe a ladder isn't important for many people but for me it is a necessity.

For some of us the window is not a real option with or without climbing aids.

I'd never poo poo anyone who does anything that makes them feel that their family is safer because of it.
But this issue is a bit like a lot of the homes in NM. They plant cactus or other high thorn bushes under their windows. Serves as a great burglar prevention without the cost of bars on the windows. In case of the need of the occupant needing to use that window for evacuation means either your gonna get a bit eaten by those bushes or they know ahead of time that they need to throw out the mattress first.
My MH window is a bit high also but it wouldn't take much to get me to jump out of it or my wife for that matter. Probably wouldn't be a pretty site but we'd get'er'done.