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The death of 14-year-old from carbon monoxide poisoning has parents worried about the safety of hotels and rental homes: Should families bring portable carbon monoxide detectors on vacation? “Carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels and rentals is rare,” , a board-certified pediatrician, tells in an email. Still, it might give some parents a feeling of security to pack a portable carbon monoxide detector in their suitcase. “It’s not paranoid if it gives you peace of mind,” says Gator Warsh, the author of “Parenting at Your Child’s Pace: The Integrative Pediatrician’s Guide to the First Three Years.
” “CO is odorless and deadly, and most places aren’t required to have up-to-date detectors. If bringing one helps you sleep better, do it." According to , not all U.
S. states require homes, schools and businesses (including rental properties) to install carbon monoxide detectors, which monitor levels of CO in the air. “Children breathe faster and have developing systems, making them more vulnerable to carbon monoxide exposure,” says Gator Warsh.
Miller, the son of New York Yankees player Aaron Gardner, died in his sleep on March 21, during a family trip to Costa Rica. “Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” read from Brett and Jessica Gardner, posted to the official “X” account of the New York Yankees. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends.
He lived life to the fullest every single day.” Carbon monoxide poisoning is when too much carbon monoxide is present in the blood. : Headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea or vomiting and loss of consciousness.
Gator Warsh tells TODAY.com that carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms can mimic the flu, which means they are “often mistaken for other illnesses.” Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency, told the that Miller tested positive for what’s considered a lethal amount of the compound carboxyhemoglobin, which forms in the presence of carbon monoxide.
On April 1, Dana Cohen, a spokesperson for the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, where the Gardner family stayed in Costa Rica, disagreed with the official finding, telling that carbon monoxide levels in the family’s room were “non-existent and non-lethal.” “We are heartbroken to hear about the tragic loss of Brett Gardner’s son due to carbon monoxide poisoning,” Torine Creppy, the president of Safe Kids Worldwide said in a statement sent to TODAY.com.
Creppy added, “As we grieve this loss, we are reminded of the serious dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that claims 1,200 lives every year. Because of their faster metabolism and smaller bodies, children are especially at risk of CO poisoning.” According to Safe Kids Worldwide, families should bring portable carbon monoxide alarms on vacation, particularly if the location is an older building.
If a carbon monoxide is already present, the organization suggests testing it out. “In many cases it’s as simple as pressing and holding the test button until the alarm sounds,” a spokesperson for Safe Kids Worldwide, tells TODAY.com.
“However not all CO detectors are the same so it’s best to check and test according to the manufacturers recommendations, which can usually be found online.” According to Gator Warsh, there is no way to know whether your resort or hotel has carbon monoxide detectors in rooms, “unless it’s clearly listed in the amenities or you ask the host directly.” “Even then,” he adds, “You can’t confirm if it’s functional or current.
” Gator suggests that upon entering a hotel room, families open the windows to ventilate the room. If you decide to buy a carbon monoxide detector — prices start at $15 on Amazon — make sure the device you select is certified as meeting standards set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Elise Solé is an experienced writer and editor who specializes in parenting and pop culture for the TODAY audience.
She’s a former New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles. She loves true crime shows, gummy candy of all types, running and hanging out with her son and husband..
