How to Stay SAFE in an RV | RVing with Joe & Kait - Ep. 4

In this episode of the "RVing with Joe & Kait" podcast, we explore the topic of personal safety and preparedness while on the road, featuring law enforcement veteran Jeff Dooley. With over 26 years of experience, Jeff shares invaluable insights into developing a safety-focused mindset, essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable RVing experience.

As we all know, RVing is about the freedom and joy of exploring new places. But it's equally important to do so safely and with the right preparation. We hope this episode provides you with valuable insights and practical tips for your RV adventures.

*Episode Guest*
Jeff Dooley is the owner and lead instructor of Personal Responsibility LLC. He is a retired Sergeant for a local law enforcement agency with over 26 years of experience. During his career Jeff served in numerous units, including the Crime Suppression and Narcotics units, SWAT and K-9 units, CID, Patrol, and Firearms Training Unit.

*Resources Mentioned in this Episode*

*Podcast Recording Resources*

*Chapters*
00:43 Welcome and introduction
02:35 What it means to have a safety mindset
04:41 How to apply safety and preparedness while traveling in an RV
06:22 Tools to carry and considerations for safety on the road
09:07 Importance of carrying a med kit and knowing first aid
10:58 Understanding and implementing situational awareness and multi-layered protection
17:43 Urban camping and how to deal with a knock in the middle of the night
18:30 Practical Safety Tips for RVers Practical advice and actionable tips to enhance safety while RVing.
20:50 Carrying bear spray or wasp spray for personal safety
23:49 Jeff's approach to personal protection
31:30 Real life safety scenarios and how to handle them safely
55:29 Concluding remarks and final thoughts from Jeff

*Official Website*

*Newsletter Sign Up*

*Books by We're the Russos*

*Support the Podcast*
Like, comment and share this episode
Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcast

*Book a Call with Joe*

ⓢⓤⓑⓢⓒⓡⓘⓑⓔ & Turn on Notifications for New Videos

=========================
© We're the Russos, LLC 2024. All Rights Reserved.
=========================

- Disclosures -

[kaner]

You couldn't have found a more prepared and knowledgeable person to provide this information.

[patrickshipley]

I have had classes with Jeff and he is a great instructor. While not an rver I do travel a lot and the knowledge about what happens on the road or hotels is priceless. Two years or so ago I was in a class with him that was all about how to handle confrontations. We stopped by the Cash museum after the class and had a confrontation with a street person. Nothing happened but let’s just say Jeff is a great actor. He mimicked a street person perfectly. We were able to handle it and walk away.

[bobblizzard]

I guess I need to save this issue of Costco Connection. Congrats on the cover! ✌️❤️🙏

[chrisbiernat]

This episode is packed with valuable information. Law enforcement veteran Jeff Dooley’s real world experience helps to provide plenty of practical tips and strategies on ways to help you stay safe while enjoying your RVing. There is a strong focus on awareness to help emphasize the importance of developing a safety-focused mindset as Jeff says, “Luck favors the prepared.” Having listened to this, I am walking away with plenty of concrete takeaways that can be implemented immediately, like being prepared for potential emergencies. I also loved Jeff’s reference to The Book of Five Rings as one of my personal favorite Miyamoto Musashi’s principles is “The way is in training.” Not only is it important to acquire the information to stay safe, it is important to train and refresh yourself with the information so that you will react appropriately when the time comes. Some keywords I wrote down while listening to this episode were as follows; preparation, mindset, multiple go to means of protection, situational awareness, GPS coordinates, whiteboard, Garmin SOS, med kit, learn basic first aid, preplanned rally points, multiple points of ingress/egress, and finally always know your location and be sure it is share with someonel. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and would say that it is a must-listen for anyone traveling by RV. This episode will help you do a deep dive to make sure you have the proper preparation, knowledge, and confidence to navigate the road safely so you may enjoy all of your adventures to the fullest! Great job to Joe, Kait, and Jeff. Much appreciated.

[donberninger]

Thanks for the excellent information. I always remind my wife to lock the doors when we stop engine when in the vehicle or getting fuel. We RV and practice all doors locked. She paid attention to the white, yellow, orange and red. Very good information. Thanks again.

[UbiqueOverland]

There's a huge difference b/t wasp and pepper spray. When sprayed with wasp spray, a person has to seek treatment at a hospital. With pepper spray, treatment can take place at any water source. The effects of both can be long lasting but the pepper spray is a much better solution in my (former law enforcement) experience. Some people say that a can of wasp spray will shoot farther and with better accuracy. That's partly true. When compared with a small 4 or 6 inch pepper spray canister, a large can of wasp spray may be more effective, but not when compared with a canister of bear spray, which is still significantly smaller than a can of wasp spray. Bear spray doesn't need to be 100% accurate to be effective and it has an effective range of 20 to 40 feet. I don't see any advantage of wasp spray unless you want to send the person to the hospital, and sometimes, that might be your goal. Having had a healthy dose of pepper spray in and around my face in the police academy, I can attest to its effectiveness.

[KAW]

Great podcast! Thanks for sharing! This initiated a discussion with my husband about things we can do better!!

[j.patrickmoore]

Decades ago, I worked in retail, and we had a seminar for the employees on personal safety. The one thing I remember is that you always want to be upwind from an attacker if you're spraying mace (bear spray junior).

[barbaragrazerrobinson]

Great information so much I will definitely listen to this again. Super large thank you and your guest

[CaliforniaTravelVideos]

WTG Joe - we actually have 2 Garmin InReach satellite communication/GPS devices so despite not having cell service we can still communicate when we are at separate locations.

[brucelester]

You have arrived! You made the cover of Costco Connection!

[zlqcccu]

Joe and Kait Russo on the cover of Costco Connection. Great picture!

[pennypinchingprepper]

this is totally awesome you've almost made it to 5k You should know what I was supposed to be. Can't wait to see that number roll over you totally deserve it serge🤓

[investingwithpurpose]

Thanks for all the great information. Can you discuss what to do if you are in a campground or an isolated area and someone is approaching your van or is already at your van and you want to avoid confrontation (i.e. without a weapon).

[zachisberner]

I saw you guys on the cover Costco Connection! So cool!

[emilyarner]

Maybe spin off would be situational awareness and items in RV that you have normally that could be used as a “weapon” or items that would be recommended in RV that would enhance safety?

[samshepperrd]

18:09. 3 AM knock. It's Bad news, trouble, police .Sounds like bad news, bad news, bad news to me.

Wasp spray could very well be lethal. And could end up with the user getting a manslaughter charge. Bear spray would probably be less lethal and may even be more effective at delivering immediate pain.

[Play-Shorts-]

I've got a question for ya.. I own a home and want to rent it out and set my truck up as a Truck/Camper combo.. It's a Dodge Ram 1500 with a load capacity of 1870 lbs. Then live out of it for the next year or two with my dogs. Is there a camper you would recommend?

[perezjorbaorg]

Great podcast! You have my wheels turning! I saw from the sign up link that a handgun is required so I assume that the Russos and Jeff believe a handgun is a necessity. Might a variation of the course be taught without the handgun - say at an Overland Expo.? Also, we travel with our 7 year old nephew and obviously a lot of RVer's have children. As far as course content is concerned - how can we bring them into the fold and understand our plan of awareness and protection ?

[arkadventure]

I had to stop watching this 10 minutes in as it was making too nervous to go anywhere.