RVs Pose Carbon Monoxide Dangers
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that is toxic and the number one cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Carbon monoxide can be particularly dangerous in recreational vehicles.
The Associated Press recently reported that five people were found dead inside a rented camper at a Tennessee motorcycle festival that raised money for sick children. Investigators said the victims appeared to have been overcome by carbon monoxide fumes that leaked into the camper from a generator.
Recreational vehicles are part of a broad spectrum of products called “after-market, modified, or incomplete vehicles,” which also includes limousines, ambulances, conversion vans, and handicapped-accessible vans, reports InjuryBoard.com.
These vehicles are either purchased as an incomplete chassis from a major automaker and then assembled into a different finished product or cut apart and modified from their original factory configuration.
Unlike original equipment manufacturers (OEM), these non-OEM manufacturers may not be held to the strict design and testing requirements to which original manufacturers are held. In fact, these manufacturers may not even be held to the minimum federal requirements under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
RV manufacturers may not properly seal or vent sources of carbon monoxide gas (either from the engine, exhaust, or generator). In other instances, the equipment may be installed, but a manufacturing defect (like a crimp or faulty weld) may permit the toxic gas to escape, reports InjuryBoard.com.
The manufactures often times do not work from a standard set of design drawings or blueprints. Many do not test their vehicles for crashworthiness and safety and instead rely on the chassis provider for any safety testing (though the chassis would not have had the aftermarket/final stage equipment and materials installed at the time).
“In one case I handled, the modifier’s manager in charge of altering the fuel system and relocating the gas tank had never even heard of FMVSS 301—which is the federal minimum standard for fuel system safety—and did no testing of the modification,” reports InjuryBoard.com. The young man who owned the modified vehicle burned to death after a minor crash in which he suffered no injuries other than from the fire.
Ensure that your RV has a workable carbon monoxide deterctor.
A carbon monoxide safety resource (carbonmonoxidekills.com) provides the following 14 safety precautions for RVs:
- Use a carbon monoxide warning detector
- Inspect your RV’s chassis and generator exhaust system regularly
- Inspect the RV for openings in the floor and sidewalls (seal any holes with silicone adhesive or have it repaired before using your generator again)
- Inspect windows, door seals, and weather strips for effective seal
- Yellow flames in propane-burning appliances (coach heaters, stoves, ovens, water heaters, etc.) indicate a lack of oxygen—determine the cause and correct it immediately
- Do not operate your generator if the exhaust system is damaged in any way
- Park your RV so that the exhaust can easily dissipate away from the vehicle—do not park next to high grass or weeds, buildings, or other obstructions
- Be aware that shifting winds can cause exhaust to blow away from the coach at one moment, but under the coach in the next moment
- When stopping for long periods of time, be aware of other vehicles around you that may have engines, refrigerators, or generators running
- Do not sleep with the generator operating
- Leave a roof vent open any time the generator is running (even during winter)
- If you do not feel well, do not be fooled into thinking it is because you have been driving too long, you ate too much, or you are suffering from motion sickness—shut off the generator and step outside for fresh air
- Have your built-in vacuum cleaner inspected to ensure that it does not exhaust on the underside of your RV
- Consider parking in a “no generator” zone at RV rallies
Remember, safety is no accident.
Worth Pondering…
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
—Albert Einstein
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This is a must read for any RV owner. My wife and I are full time RVers and have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in our 5th wheel trailer. Most trailers have them as standard equipment, but RVer should check and make sure they have these safety items and they are working properly
Always read the manuals which accompany the detectors, be aware of the levels which will set off an alarm, very often low level exposures such as 20 parts per million will NOT set of a CO detector, but those levels can be harmful for anyone with heart and or lung conditions. It is best to prepare and also be informed.
Don’t forget to check the batteries of the detectors. The same as at home, 2 times a year, or pretriping for your next trip. You got batteries for the flashlight, check the other batteries in the RV, even the little ones.
■Leave a roof vent open any time the generator is running (even during winter)
Very good advice…and if all else fails, this mith be a life saver!
Some good advice, carbon monoxide detectors are inexpensive, and I’m making a note to buy another one for my class A motorhome, one probably isn’t enough, especially when we take the grandkids on trips and they sleep up front on the sofa and dinette beds.
This summer, we were parked about 15 feet from another motorhome that had their generator running. We had our bedroom windows open, and their generator caused our carbon monoxide detector to go off.
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t run our generator when sleeping, but when you are out there somewhere in South Dakota in August, and it is 90° out, we do run our generator. But, I check it carefully, it is maintained by a local Onan serviceman with years of experience, the muffler and exhaust is recent, and I check the detector (make that two detectors now) to be sure they are working.
As I recall reading about the recent deaths, it sounds like they had a generator mounted on the back bumper without an exhaust system designed to draw the exhaust away from the immediate area, with a window or vent open right next to it.
If it is in the budget, a Honda generator with a 30 amp plug-in would be ideal for nighttime use, with a long cord to have it running a distance from your (and other) RV’s. Maybe I can fund one of my kid’s inheritance.
I don’t understand the following line from the article:
“Have your built-in vacuum cleaner inspected to ensure that it does not exhaust on the underside of your RV”
What is the safety issue?
I have been using a GenTuri generator exhaust system for several years on both class A and C laches and have been very satisfied with it. It lead the exhaust up and over the coach roof, an quiets it significantly. All of the tips here are excellent and potential lifesavers…the GenTuri is the final link in the chain, IMHO. The unit is available at CampingWorld and other dealers..plans are available online, but I recommend the “real thing.” for safety.
I have a special muffler that works on any gasoline RV generator that reduces Carbon Monoxide by 99%.
It also works on any and gasoline powered generators , Fire departments all over the country have been using my product for years creating a huge safety factor for the Fir Fighters who around these engines every day
http://www.envirogencats.com
Get one today and stay safe !
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I am the mother & mother in law of 2 of the victims in the September 18, 2011 carbon monoxide deaths at the annual BWC toy run in Clarksville, Tn. My daughter, Kathryn Watson Over & her husband Jon Over left 15 month old twin sons. Since the accident, Tn. passed a Law (comes into effect July 1, 2012) that states that every rented or leased recreational vehicle must have a working carbon monoxide detector & must be check & signed off by the person retenting the recreational vehicle. It is now known as the BWC 5 Act. This is the first & only bill of this kind in the Nation. I am now trying to take the BWC 5 Act to the federal level. I came upon your web site while doing some research on carbon monoxide poisioning. (931) 647-7047
The tragic carbon monoxide accident in the RV on September 18, 2011 left a total of 13 children without 1 or 2 parents. We need to pass a law in the nation so other families would not have to go through this heartache. The carbon monoxide bill (BWC 5) was signed on April 11, 2011 by Governor Haslam during a ceremonial signing at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tn. If you would like any more information about the accident or BWC 5 Act, please contact Christine Watson-(931) 647-7047
House Bill #2734
Senate Bill #2357
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