RVs | Tents
Beware of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while RVing and tent camping. CO is a toxic gas that is invisible and odorless – it’s undetectable without an alarm. If you are asleep when you are exposed, you may not wake up. People who are asleep or under the influence of alcohol are most at risk of dying from the effects of CO.
SAFEGUARD YOUR RV WITH A CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM
For optimal protection, select an alarm that is specifically made for use in an RV and is NRTL certified (meets U.S. safety standards). Most newer RVs come with CO detectors/alarms already installed. However, keep in mind that sensors in alarm devices have a limited lifespan (7-10 years) so if your RV is older, it may be time to replace the entire alarm.
Battery-operated household CO alarms may be used for individual trips but are not designed to withstand temperature extremes and should be removed at times the RV is in storage.
For information on CO alarms designed especially for RVs:
SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHEN CAMPING
- RV exhaust (yours or your neighbor’s), charcoal grills and gas BBQs
- fuel burning camping equipment (camp stoves, heaters, lanterns)
- gas generators (yours or your neighbor’s)
- malfunctioning LP gas appliances in your RV
NEVER USE A CHARCOAL GRILL OR OTHER FUEL BURNING EQUIPMENT INSIDE A TENT OR RV – IT CAN KILL YOU WITHIN MINUTES
Never cook inside a tent…even if it is raining…even five or ten hours after lighting a barbecue, when there’s virtually no residual heat, gas (CO) is being produced
~ Roland Wessling whose partner, Hazel Woodhams, was killed by CO fumes from a charcoal barbecue inside their tent
More information:
- Read the personal account of Roland Wessling whose tent-camping trip with his partner ended in tragedy
- In March 1999, two separate camping incidents resulted in six deaths – 2 adults and 4 children – from a propane stove and a charcoal grill used inside tents
- Other stories can be found on our incident blog page here