Question about exiting in an emergency

[harryjr]

The deadbolt latch on the door of my Eagle is small, black, recessed and can be covered by the bug shield. If I haven't had my coffee in the morning I fumble and stumble trying to unlock it.

So what happens if it's the middle of the night and I've got flames licking my a$$. Brick and mortar building codes require panic bars. The dead bolts on a house are larger and prominent. Why is an RV different? I can't imagine trying to exit through the emergency window exit, and basic firefighting procedure whenever possible is to "take 'em out the same way they went in.

Why isn't it a RVIA standard to make unlocking the deadbolt more user friendly in an emergency?

[Blazing_Zippers]

I'm going to sound like a know it all here---but years of emergency response has led me to the following;
My clothes are laid out the same every night at bed time- wallet, keys, watch, phone, etc in the pockets- shoes are at a certain place on the floor- doors are set a certain way (so I know if I have to git, it's going to be fast)-flashlight and personal protection in a certain place. Especially in the RV.
I don't "think" I'm paranoid much, but it's comforting to have given thought to a plan.

[PartyOf_Five]

There's always the other way of looking at the situation- it'll be time to go when it's time to go. Out the door, out the window, or not at all.

[Lwiddis]

When you check the lock just before retiring, move the bug shield over.

[jdc1]

Uh.....my deadbolt is the same as a standard resident deadbolt. Just turn the latch.

[RobWNY]

If you're in an RV and truly have flames licking your a$$ it's not going to matter if you can find the dead bolt or not. It will be too late by then. RV's go from on fire to fully engulfed very quickly. Now if your smoke detector goes off and you can't get through the window, a good swift kick of the door or a hard shoulder into it will get the door open. Those dead bolts aren't hard to get open. You have very little time in an RV if there's a fire. You get out by any means you can. It's not like the RV is going to be salvageable anyway so no need to worry about damaging anything.

[thomasmnile]

I'm thinking one swift kick and the door will open......

[bukhrn]

What's wrong with going out the emergency exit window, that's what they're for, flip the latches and out you go.
By Brick & Mortar, I assume you're talking about public/ commercial buildings, as homes aren't required to have panic bars, at least no where I've ever lived, my RV dead bolt isn't that hard to find or operate.