Dear Readers,
The Yucatán peninsula has been the focus of media attention in the last few days due to a terrible tragedy. A family was killed by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning inside their rented condo. The cause hasn’t been determined yet, but from photos I’ve seen, the stove and/or water heater are likely culprits.
The amount of chatter about this on the expat forums I belong to is high, of course, and even higher is the amount of ignorance regarding how deadly gas (in this case propane) can be. I have been called a “dumbass” for “believing” that a gas leak can kill you in anyway other than an explosion!
Having had an uncle die from a propane leak and having lived in an RV for as long as I have, the dangers of propane are very well known to me. If you have gas in your RV or home, please have all connections inspected regularly by a certified professional. If you smell gas (an odour like a rotten egg), vacate the premises immediately and call for help. And most important of all, have at least on CO monitor per level of your home and installed no higher than five feet from the floor.
Most accommodation in Mexico uses gas (propane or butane) for cooking and propane is often used for heating water as well. And yet, having a CO monitor is not standard here and, in fact, such monitors are difficult to find. I’ve learned that a lot of folks travel here with portable CO monitors that don’t use lithium ion batteries (easier to fly with), so this might be something you want to add to your travel list if renting accommodation in countries with lax or no building codes at all.
Due to that tragedy in my family, I have learned the hard way about respecting gas. I hope you will never have to experience anything like what my and this family have had to go through. Please educate yourselves on the dangers of propane and how to stay safe.
Sincerely yours,
Not a Dumbass