Most of us wouldn’t dream of leaving for vacation without double-checking our sunscreen, swimsuits, and chargers. But there’s one item few travelers think to bring — and it could save your life: a portable carbon monoxide monitor.
The tragic death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner, son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner, is a heartbreaking reminder of this hidden danger. While vacationing with his family in Costa Rica, Miller was exposed to carbon monoxide from a reported leak, later confirmed by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department. Tests showed high levels of carboxyhemoglobin, evidence that carbon monoxide had silently overtaken his system. Reports suggest the leak may have come from a faulty water heater — something almost no guest would ever think to check.
Unfortunately, incidents like this are becoming all too common. Three American women died from carbon monoxide exposure while staying at a Belize beach resort earlier this year. A family of four lost their lives over Christmas while vacationing in New Hampshire. Even at a ski resort in Georgia (the country), twelve people were found dead from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
The danger is that carbon monoxide is completely invisible — you can’t smell it, see it, or taste it. Without a working CO detector, there’s no easy way to know you’re being poisoned. Symptoms like headache, nausea, or dizziness often come on quickly and can be mistaken for food poisoning, heat exhaustion, or even jet lag.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 150 people die every year from non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S. alone.
Would You Pack a Carbon Monoxide Monitor for Your Next Trip?
Small, battery-powered carbon monoxide monitors are affordable and easy to pack. Some are even designed specifically for travel, about the size of a deck of cards.
When you think about all the places you sleep while traveling — hotels, rental homes, cabins, houseboats — not all are guaranteed to have properly maintained equipment or even working CO detectors. In fact, regulations around carbon monoxide alarms in vacation properties vary widely from country to country, and even state to state.
A personal CO monitor could alert you within seconds if something’s wrong, giving you precious time to leave the area and call for help.
It’s not about being afraid to travel — it’s about being prepared.
Vacations are meant for adventure, relaxation, and creating memories. Packing a small carbon monoxide monitor is just another way to help make sure those memories are happy ones.
So, would you add one to your travel checklist?
