Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It has no smell or taste meaning you could be inhaling it without realising it.

In a caravan, awning or tent, a warm and smouldering barbecue will give off plenty of poisonous carbon monoxide. It can build up to dangerous levels very quickly in an enclosed space.

Camping or caravanning

• Never place a barbecue in your tent, awning, caravan or motorhome
• Don’t cook inside your tent or awing.
• Never use your gas stove or barbecue for heating.
• Fit a carbon monoxide alarm in your caravan. These are reasonably priced in local DIY stores and are easy to fit. Visit our carbon monoxide advice page for further guidance on alarms.
• Don’t rely on a carbon monoxide alarms to warn you of carbon monoxide in a tent or awning.  They are not designed for these conditions.
• Don’t use any gas, charcoal or liquid fuel appliances inside a tent or awning.

Symptoms to watch out for are

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Collapse
• Or loss of consciousness