Recent headlines are a reminder that travelers should be prepared, ask the right questions, and do their research.
News of a couple dying earlier this month in a luxury hotel in Mexico due to a possible gas leak has reason to rattle travelers all over the world. And although it turned out that neither gas nor carbon monoxide was to blame for the deaths, the case has resurfaced instances of carbon monoxide poisoning linked to travelers’ deaths.
In November, three Americans visiting Mexico City were found dead in their Airbnb, with the cause of death being carbon monoxide. A few months prior to this, three travelers from Florida died after becoming ill from a carbon monoxide leak at a Sandals Resort in the Bahamas. If all of these tragic news stories have you asking yourself what measures you can take to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning while traveling, you’re already on your way to safer travels. Find out what you can do to minimize this type of risk.
Does My Accommodation Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector?
There’s no guarantee that your accommodation of choice—be it a hotel room, a room in a bed and breakfast, or an entire home rented off Airbnb or Vrbo—will be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector.
Without a detector, carbon monoxide–a colorless, odorless gas–can seep out undetected and get into the lungs, especially in an enclosed space such as a hotel room or bedroom in an Airbnb. Too much ingestion of the gas can be fatal. And by the time it’s discovered, it may be too late for medical intervention. This is why a carbon monoxide detector is essential to your safety while traveling.
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On a page titled, “Preparing your listing with safety essentials,” Airbnb encourages hosts to install a carbon monoxide alarm. The guidance reads, “We ask that all listings be equipped with smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms if the listings have fuel-burning devices. For active Airbnb Hosts, Airbnb will cover the cost of a carbon monoxide alarm (Hosts will be responsible for any custom taxes).”
The safety tips’ page also encourages hosts to update their listings with this important safety information. But since it’s not a blanket requirement, not all Airbnb listings—at least, those without fuel-burning devices—aren’t guaranteed to contain this device.
“The majority of listings on Airbnb globally report having a smoke detector, and we run a global detector program, giving away combined smoke and CO detectors at no cost to all eligible Hosts,” said a spokesperson from Airbnb. “To date, over 200,000 Hosts globally have ordered a detector through this program.”
If you are opting for an Airbnb stay, be sure to check the listing of your room or home to see if the host has included information about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Airbnb says this information is visible to guests, and guests can also filter listings by homes that report having detectors. You can also contact the host before you book if you don’t see this information. Then, if they respond that there is no carbon monoxide detector on site, you may want to choose another listing or travel with your own portable device (more on this later).
“If a guest books a listing where a Host has not yet reported detectors present,” Airbnb’s spokesperson told Fodor’s, “we flag this so they’re aware and can take precautionary steps as needed.” The company has also partnered with fire services and safety experts around the world and has launched a campaign for CO safety.
Vrbo, similarly, does not require its hosts to equip their spaces with the five safety essentials they recommend. Rather, a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector are described as things Vrbo, which is owned by Expedia Group, expects hosts to have. Instead of being a mandatory part of renting on Vrbo, it’s merely a strong suggestion: “Your vacation rental should have enough of these life-saving safety devices based on the size of your vacation rental.”
A Vrbo spokesperson told Fodor’s that they “recommend that travelers conduct a safety check when first arriving at a property to become familiar with the location of safety equipment in the home,” and pointed out that safety features are displayed on property listing pages in the amenities section.
Since hotels aren’t required by law to install carbon monoxide detectors in every guest room, there’s a good chance the hotel you select won’t have this basic safety measure in place. Following the deaths of the three people staying at Sandals in the Bahamas, the all-inclusive brand announced that it would start installing carbon monoxide detectors in all its rooms in the Caribbean. But this announcement merely underscored the fact that it’s not a hotel requirement. It’s not mandated by any law. The New York Times reported that the lodging industry said it’s unnecessary and expensive, though the detectors cost about $30 a pop.
Related: Quiet Hours, Curfews, and *Chores*? Why the Tide May Be Turning Against Airbnb
Go Prepared
It’s not enough to ensure your travel accommodations are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors; you also need to make sure they’re in good working order. The detectors have a test button, and if you find yourself staying in a hotel with a carbon monoxide detector in the room but are uncomfortable sounding the test alarm yourself or are just unsure of how to properly test that the device is working, you can always ask the front desk to send someone to your room to carry out the test. Brinks Security’s website contains information on how to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Another option, however, is to skip the testing and DIY it, that is, travel with your own portable safety device. If you’re staying in an Airbnb or other home rental, consider packing a few of the easily transportable devices to maximize your safety. Amazon has multiple portable carbon monoxide testers available.
Finally, if you suspect a leak and start to feel dizzy or nauseous, seek fresh air right away and then notify the authorities. Medical attention can save lives.
This article has been updated to include a statement from Airbnb.