What the hell is up with all that CO? I mean... How does one even get CO in those concentrations? Fireplaces? If so, CO detectors aren't the solution, correctly maintained and built chimneys are.
In my friend's case it was just a faulty heater in her apartment. The first cold night of the year she turned on the heat, went to bed, and never woke up. I don't know the details beyond that.
We've had detectors ever since. And I usually think about it this time of year.
I assumed that but can't confirm. We had all just graduated the summer prior. She moved out of state and was living in a small apartment. Her family were all overseas. The police contacted us because they couldn't reach her family, so we only got the barest details.
It felt unreal, but it was enough to understand the potential consequences of living in a shitty rental.
A good time to remind the part of the world using these fuels that this is not a thing if you switch to electric solutions, which are superior for heating/cooling performance and superior for the vast majority cooking use-cases. They also have the potential to have zero emissions, which gas combustion can’t really have. Switch today.
Aren’t most CO detectors portable? The only ones I’ve ever seen in stores are small and plug right into the wall like a wall wart or battery powered (or both)
The number seems low, so I looked for some information about how common CO poisoning is in non-Airbnb hotels and motels and found this:
This study was conducted to determine the significance of the problem of carbon monoxide poisoning occurring in US hotels, motels and resorts. […] From January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2018, 905 guests were poisoned in 115 identified incidents, including 22 fatalities. […] Most poisonings were caused by natural gas fueled appliances and could likely have been prevented by an in-room carbon monoxide alarm. To reduce morbidity and mortality from unintentional CO poisoning in lodging facilities, government should mandate installation of in-room CO alarms, similar to the current requirement for smoke alarms.
This problem doesn’t appear to occur any higher in Airbnb establishments than any other hotel, motel, or resort, at least according to what this research suggests. It is worth noting, however, that the frequency of poisonings is a lot higher when you consider those that didn’t lead to fatalities.
With that said, CO monitors are fairly cheap and as the research states, a lot of these incidents could probably have been prevented by using them. In many countries in Europe at least, this is already a legal requirement. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be in the US too.
Yeah the same ones who espouse InDiViDuAl FrEeDuMB and DoNt tREaD oN mE but who drone about what other people choose to identify as, try to stop them, and what literally in no way impacts them.
Regulations restrict freedoms. That’s the absolute extent of their logic. In this case, it would infringe on the freedom to rent unsafe lodging to people.
I think the first ammendment is freedom of speech and the second ammendment is the right to shoot guns. So you have the right to be an asshole and get shot for it, and if you were wrongly shot, someone else can shoot the person who shot you. Perfect harmony!
It’s strange though that it is not required in private homes, and rbnb are basically available private homes for rent (or at least it started with that)
The moment it’s for rent it’s required. Pretty crafty requirement. In my opinion it should also be mandatory in owner-inhabited housses - it’s a very cheap way to prevent pretty unpleasant death.
First of all, a death by monoxide is not unpleasant. The thought of death is but monoxide just puts you to sleep (for ever)…
Now… I get that detectors are great, and I also agree that people should get them! But there’s a huge leap from that, and to make them mandatory.
I also get that is it required to have in commercial rooms but airbnb is originally a service to rent a room in your house or maybe your apartment when you dont need it. Its up to people themselves to choose if they want to have a detector and also up to the customer to chose if they want to rent something without a detector Lastly, they can simply bring their own detector with them if they want one.
Doesnt matter here. Rent is rent, means youre in for the safety of the renters. So these detectors are required, period. No “but its just a room” or “just for the weekend”. Youre responsable for the safety.
I think it’s required by law now in Ontario, Canada too. It applies to every residential building with an attached garage, fuel burning appliances, or a fireplace.
It was put in place after an officer died along with her husband and two kids back in 2008 from carbon monoxide poisoning.
More places should have alarm requirements, imo. It’s not like you can smell it, see it, taste it, or hear it. Carbon monoxide is called a silent killer for a good reason.
I dislike AirBNB, but 19 deaths in 10 years is laughably low. I really don’t see how it’s their job to mandate this for every rental around the world. If you’re worried about this, bring your own damn detector.
It’s not a huge number, but some regulation to make sure CO detectors are mandatory in Airbnb’s (and frankly, any residential property as well) wouldn’t be terrible.
I see your point, but it’s not always about the numbers. We prevent child deaths that would amount to extremely low numbers because it’s important and preventable. Same thing here, except carbon monoxide detectors could prevent an entire family from being wiped out overnight. Also, they’re crazy-cheap, especially for a business that you set up to be long-term and to make money from…
Add comment