The sinister sneeking thing that dwells within the shadows? Sure, carbon monoxide. Without a proper sight, scent or even taste, it thoroughly blacks out people – and has tourists on sharp lookout due to the countless deaths it is rumored to have caused.
Here, take this for an example. Miller Gardner, a fourteen year old kid, was thoroughly enjoying himself on a family trip to a beach resort in Costa Rica until — Cursed by devilish fate. His cause of death? Monoxide poisoning. Just a month earlier, three American women were found dead in their hotel room in Belize – same curse. Doesn’t that send chills down your spine?
So Where’s This Stuff Coming From?
It can leak out of everyday appliances if they’re not properly maintained, like water heaters, gas stoves, dryers and even pool heaters. If ventilation systems are busted or corroded, carbon monoxide has nowhere to go… except straight into the room.
And you won’t believe it. It can ambush through walls, doors, or even vents. As soon as you start intaking the gas, it messes up oxygen flow to your heart, brain, muscles, and can even destroy them. In some cases? Kills you.
Hotels Aren’t Always Safe, Either
In America a majority of houses have carbon monoxide detectors. But what about hotels and vacation homes? Not really. More than 900 guests in America were treated for CO poisoning between 2005 and 2018, leading to the death of 22 people. This was reported in the Preventive Medicine Reports.
Some places such as Airbnb and VRBO allow users to filter for smoke and CO detectors, but not every listing has a detector, meaning there are no laws validating those claims in every country. So yes, if you do not check beforehand, it’s a bit of a lottery.
What Can Travelers Actually Do?
A couple of words from experts can ensure your safety:
Give your hotel or rental host a call beforehand. Make sure to verify if there are CO detectors installed in the room you will be staying. Never leave room for assumptions.
Stay away from guest rooms adjacent to the pool or mechanical equipment. These areas contain the most stored chemicals alongside gas powered machines that tend to leak.
If your room is assigned to a higher floor, that’s a bonus since it usually puts you farther away from gas equipment.
And here’s a pro tip: bring your own CO alarm. Seriously. There are tiny, TSA-approved, battery-powered CO alarms (just don’t leave the lithium batteries in your checked luggage). Place it on the nightstand while you sleep. The majority of poisonings occur when individuals are sleeping or too motionless to notice any symptoms.
Search for devices certified with UL 2034, which indicates compliance with national safety standards.
Planning a Camping Trip? Even More Excursions to be Aware of.
Camping is fun, but if you are using gear such as gas lanterns, space heaters, or portable stoves inside your tent, then you are in trouble. And by trouble, I mean gas.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly urges you not to do this. Not only is there the risk of heating the surrounding air to several hundred degrees, which can trap carbon monoxide in a tiny, enclosed space, but it gets worse if high altitudes are involved. Additionally, refrain from placing your tent near cars and fire pits as CO can build up rapidly.
Last Words? Don’t Let Your Vacation Become an Eye-Catching News Story
It is astonishing to consider how something so quiet can be so perilous. But going the extra mile, as steps can make the difference that counts. Rest easy, you can ask your chosen accommodation what the specifics are, and plan well in advance—oh, and maybe even throw in that mini CO gas detector, best kept on hand.
Better to err on the side of caution, isn’t it?
