Training is the key to making your employees as good as you are! (That's a compliment!) Put all your procedures down in writing, and test or quiz your new folks as to exactly what you expect them to do when an event happens. Schedule re-training prior to a new season. Never assume they know what you're thinking, or will remember from year to year. Many park employees may have only a few months to just a couple of years of experience, so they must receive instructions from you as if you're going on an extended vacation.

Recently a human skull was found in a campground. I bet that incident is not in anybody's manual, but it falls in line with things you probably should have in your book. They should call the police or sheriff for starters. The same applies if someone fires a gun, or is seen sneaking into another RV that doesn't belong to them. What's the plan if a big argument occurs, or a groups of guests are obviously drunk and annoying their neighbors with loud music?

Another recent event was a downed power line in the park. This could happen because someone hit a pole, a big storm, or just wear and tear. Immediate action has to be taken. Call the power company and fire department as it is a fire hazard. Get your staff to immediately rope off the area. On your supply shelf, do you have a roll of Hazard Warning or Do Not Cross yellow tape? Keep someone on site protecting the area until the authorities arrive.

If you don't have an emergency list it is time to create one. Put after hours power company numbers on that list. The same applies for the propane company, especially if you have a fill station, as well as the contact info for the water utility service. Of course, always stress the importance of dialing 911 first and fast!

Here's a frightening thought: I believe there was a fire every month of last year in an RV park. In some months, there were several fires. There were deaths involved, and in almost all cases, the RV Rigs were totally destroyed. In some cases, the units parked next door were also burned. Almost every unit had a propane tank inside and that's like finding a bomb in a fire.

I spend several hours a week reading RV Reviews. I like to know what the guests report about the park they paid to stay in, and did they feel they obtained more than their monies worth. One of the most popular complaints is the sites are so close together they couldn't even open their awnings, or in some cases, even their slides. However, recently a reviewer said & I'm paraphrasing, “Their sites are so close, if there was a fire, twenty units would burn in a matter of minutes.”

Another reviewer said, “The fire ring was two feet from their RV.” Just a little propane leak would destroy that rig in a hurry.

So what is your plan, and is it written out for your staff to study? List all the things that could go wrong this year and what to do? The writing of the plan is also important legally. Protect yourself, your staff, and especially your guests. I doubt that anyone is willing to risk the lost of a life, that could also result in the lost of their business, so take precautions and make a plan!

Copyright 2010 by GTI