It’s easy for travelers to forget the threats that await in places of leisure and relaxation, especially in the places we stay. As we discussed last week, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a fatal and widespread hidden danger. This toxic gas is responsible for serious complications and, in rare cases, death. In lodging properties, malfunctioning water heaters or pool heaters are the leading cause of carbon monoxide. Improperly installed or malfunctioning boilers further exacerbate this perilous issue. Long trips increase the risk of CO poisoning, as they provide an extended period of exposure. Vacationers need to be informed about the dangers and know how to keep themselves safe.
Because carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can build up rapidly in enclosed spaces, it is especially deadly. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, chest pain, and fatigue. The gas hinders the body’s capacity to deliver oxygen to essential organs, including the brain, heart, and lung. Without appropriate treatment, carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly.
The Need for Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Given the well-documented and serious dangers associated with carbon monoxide, there is no federal standard requiring CO alarms in STVRs. This is true not only in the U.S. but around the world. This gap in safety measures endangers those who travel. An analysis published in 2021 estimated that carbon monoxide poisoning occurring in lodging properties has resulted in as many as 1,498 deaths and 38,657 injuries over the last two decades.
Carbon monoxide alarms are the only effective tool for warning against this dangerous gas. They allow you to monitor carbon monoxide at levels down to 10 ppm. This early warning is powerful because it can save lives by allowing more time to react. We recommend travelers purchase and use “low-level” carbon monoxide alarms. These protective alarms are intended for use in permeable transient accommodations. These alarms are widely available for as little as $20. This tiny investment can potentially save someone’s life!
Several U.S. states mandate hotels to have carbon monoxide detectors. Surprisingly, many of these laws have built-in exemptions that can render some lodging properties unregulated. With these holes in safety standards, travelers need to be empowered to prioritize their own safety. Verify that your lodging arrangements have working carbon monoxide alarms.
Symptoms and Treatment of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Understanding the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning is key to early intervention. People exposed to carbon monoxide may present with symptoms that mimic food poisoning or viral infections very closely. As a result, this confusion can cause misdiagnosis, including by healthcare providers in the emergency room setting.
When an individual shows symptoms of CO poisoning, time-sensitive treatment is required. Treatment typically involves administering oxygen until symptoms resolve. In extreme situations, hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be necessary in order to bring oxygen levels back to normal in the abdomen.
Neil Hampson, a medical expert on carbon monoxide exposure, emphasizes the need for awareness while traveling: “Travel is a common source of carbon monoxide poisoning.” This proclamation served as a great reminder to be vigilant and prepared while on vacation.
Personal Experiences and Safety Measures
The risks of carbon monoxide poisoning are not hypothetical, they are all too real for the thousands of travelers who are affected. Kris Hauschildt shared her troubling experience: “This is the fourth rental I’ve stayed in where this has happened.” Such tragic incidents served to reinforce the urgent necessity for enhanced safety standards and training regarding CO poisoning dangers in short-term rentals.
To help reduce risks while traveling, Americans should look into using portable, battery-operated low-level carbon monoxide alarms that can be taken on trips. These devices are invaluable pieces of technology that give parents peace of mind and their children an extra layer of safety when staying in new, unfamiliar environments.
Or as one former Food and Drug Administration official put it in testimony, “a small price to pay for a potential lifesaver.” This new angle motivates tourists to protect their own safety by supporting the purchase of these easy-to-use but life-saving gadgets.
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