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