Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It is produced by burning anything that contains carbon. This can include gasoline, natural gas, diesel fuel, propane, and even wood, and these fuels can be burned in an engine, fireplace, water heater, furnace, or countless other locations.
When a fire is not burning cleanly, it produces carbon monoxide gas. As the gas is released, it spreads throughout the building and is inhaled by its occupants. The carbon monoxide binds to the red blood cells and prevents them from transporting oxygen to the body.
The effect is amplified over time because the carbon monoxide does not easily release from the red blood cells, creating a cumulative effect that eventually allows so little oxygen in the blood that the victim can die. Click here for the Top 10 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save lives
Fortunately, carbon monoxide poisoning is a highly preventable occurrence. In most cases, it only happens because there was no detector in place or because the detector was not functional. Most people have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes if they use carbon fuels for anything, but many of us don’t think about being prepared to address carbon monoxide when we travel.
Buying a carbon monoxide detector for travel can turn into a great investment in your family’s safety. Here are some reasons why you should consider one.
Protection in Places Without Detectors
While hotels are typically required by fire codes to install carbon monoxide detectors, you may not be staying in a hotel. The most obvious alternative is various forms of camping, from “glamping” in upscale surroundings in a nice RV to the most primitive night under the stars in a tent. No matter where your camping arrangement falls on the spectrum, a carbon monoxide detector will help.
Campers and RV’s typically power many of their amenities with LP gas, supplied by tanks carried on the hitch. This means that heat, cooking, and even refrigeration will require combustion of liquid propane.
For those who truly rough it when they camp, similar problems can be encountered. The brush and leaf litter you gathered up to build a campfire are carbon-based just like fossil fuels, and they’ll produce carbon monoxide just like fossil fuels will. This is particularly problematic in the wee hours of the night when the campfire has been allowed to burn itself out. This stage of combustion is particularly likely to create carbon monoxide, so a detector inside each tent could prevent a tragedy.
Providing a Reliable Backup
The fact that your lodging has carbon monoxide detectors doesn’t mean they will work. Even a small hotel or motel has dozens of rooms, each one with many different amenities that need proper upkeep and repair, usually starting with the ones that draw the most complaints when they aren’t working correctly.
That means that faulty TV remotes and flickering light bulbs land higher on the list of priorities than carbon monoxide detectors. Guests are unlikely to check those devices unless they are putting out the annoying low-battery chirp, but they will check for hot water, cold air, and quiet commodes. Maintenance staff may not have the time to service detectors by the time they deal with all those other problems.
Instead of relying on the presence and performance of an in-house detector, you are much safer to bring your own. You can test it yourself when you arrive, providing assurance that if something happens, you’ll be alerted to it regardless of the condition of the one in the room. In addition, local codes may not even require detectors in hotel rooms.
Transportation and Use Are Simple
Travelers these days often take pause at packing any kind of electronic device if they will be flying. They know that airport security is particularly vigilant about any kind of device found in luggage, and they don’t want to have anything confiscated or, worse yet, draw extra scrutiny from officials.
Portable carbon monoxide detectors are easy to pack. They are compact and won’t consume valuable space in your bags. In addition, their batteries are safe to keep in a checked bag on board a plane, and their function is clearly marked on the detector to ease the concerns of baggage inspectors.
Setup is no more difficult than your cell phone. Simply give it a quick check of the battery and place it on your nightstand or in some other location that is very close to your bed.
They Protect You from Unexpected Hazards
Say you’ve checked into a hotel that is 100% electric. The heat, the water heater, and all other amenities are powered by electricity. There’s no need for a carbon monoxide detector, at least as far as building codes are concerned. That means there’s no real reason for you to bring your own detector, right? Maybe so, but maybe not.
Hotels are not completely isolated from the outside world. Outside your electrically heated hotel room could be an 18-wheeler that will idle all night long. The hotel’s landscaping staff could be operating a lawnmower, edger, trimmer, or leaf blower near your window.
The list goes on and on of the sources of carbon monoxide that may exist in a building that supposedly shouldn’t have any. In that case, you’re safer to bring your own carbon monoxide detector and have a worry-free night’s rest. Setting it up at every single hotel is also a good way to make sure you’ll always pack the detector.
Some Final Thoughts
Traveling for work can be hectic and traveling for pleasure should be relaxing. Either way, you’ll benefit from the peace of mind you’ll get by having a carbon monoxide detector with you wherever you go. It will help you make sure that you and your traveling companions are safe no matter what outside factor may come into play.
Portable carbon monoxide detectors are compact, easy to use, very reliable, and quite affordable. As you’re picking up those travel-size soaps, beach towels, or fishing rods, spend a few moments choosing a carbon monoxide detector to provide an extra layer of safety for your trip.