Travel CO Safety Check

Carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels and vacation rentals is more common than most travelers realize. A peer-reviewed study documented 115 CO incidents at U.S. hotels, motels, and resorts between 2005 and 2018 — poisoning more than 900 guests and killing 22. In nearly every case, the CO source was located outside the guest room: pool heaters, boilers, generators, and adjacent parking garages.

The regulatory picture makes this worse. There is no federal law requiring CO detectors in hotel guest rooms. Only 14 states mandate them by statute. The Stay Safe Act, which would require CO alarms in every hotel and rental room nationally, has been introduced in Congress multiple times but has not passed.

This 2-minute safety check evaluates your specific travel situation — accommodation type, room location, CO detector presence, whether you carry a portable detector, and your awareness of CO symptoms. Based on your answers, you will get a risk-level assessment and a clear set of pre-trip and arrival actions.

Note: This check provides general travel safety guidance based on CDC, CPSC, and NFPA recommendations. If you smell gas, feel unexplained symptoms, or hear a CO alarm while traveling, leave the room immediately and call 911 or local emergency services.

In 2 Minutes

• 900+ hotel guests poisoned and 22 killed by CO in U.S. hotels between 2005 and 2018 — and those are only the documented cases.
• No federal law requires CO detectors in hotel guest rooms. Only 14 states mandate them.
• Pool heaters are the #1 hotel CO source — rooms near indoor pools or mechanical equipment carry higher risk.
• A portable CO detector costs $20–$60 and fits in a carry-on. CDC and CPSC recommend travelers carry one.
• Ask before you book: Does the property have CO detectors? What type of heating system? When were detectors last tested?
• On arrival: Look for a CO detector in your room. If there is none, deploy your portable unit near the bed.

What This Check Covers

• What type of accommodation you are staying in (hotel, Airbnb, vacation rental, cabin, resort).
• Whether the property has confirmed CO detectors in or near your room.
• Your room's location relative to known CO risk zones (pool equipment, garages, mechanical rooms).
• Whether you own or plan to carry a portable CO detector.
• Whether you know the symptoms of CO poisoning and what to do if they occur.
• Whether anyone in your travel group is at elevated CO risk.

Start the Check

How to Interpret Your Result

This check evaluates your travel CO preparedness against CDC, CPSC, and travel safety best practices.

• Well Prepared: Your travel CO safety setup aligns with best practices recommended by the CDC, CPSC, and travel safety organizations. You have confirmed CO detection at your accommodation, carry a portable detector, and know what to do if symptoms appear.
• Gaps to Address Before You Go: Your travel setup has one or two CO safety gaps that are straightforward to close before your trip. Specific actions are provided below.
• Elevated Risk: Your travel situation has multiple CO safety gaps that, combined, create meaningful risk. Immediate pre-trip actions are detailed below.

Sources & References

1. PMC/NIH — Hampson (2019) — CO poisonings in hotels and motels . 905 guests poisoned, 22 deaths, 115 incidents (2005–2018).
2. CDC — CO Poisoning Basics . ~400 deaths/year, 100,000+ ER visits.
3. CPSC — CO Information Center . Annual CO death reports, safety alerts.
4. NCSL — CO Detector Requirements by State . State-by-state table including hotel mandates.
5. The Jenkins Foundation — Hotel CO Incident Data . 50+ years of U.S. hotel CO incident database.
6. NCOAA — CO Safety While Traveling . Nonprofit 7-step travel safety guide.
7. Kidde — Travel & CO Safety . Manufacturer travel safety checklist.
8. Hotel Dive — Stay Safe Act . Federal hotel CO detector mandate bill.
9. Airbnb — Safety Expectations . Official guest safety page and CO alarm program.
10. Consumer Reports — Portable CO Detectors . Lab-tested portable detector ratings.