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.
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.
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…
AirBnB is killing 2 customers a year because it’s cheaper for them than mandating a cheap piece of safety equipment.
There’s no local ordinance over the ocean? Here (Belgium) it’s mandatory for anything rented or commercially used.
Our conservatives do not like regulations. wE HaVe fReEDuMb!
The same ones that censor books and prevent abortion? MhHHhhhh
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.
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.
Condolences
A gas heater I assume?
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.
Fuck… Sorry to hear that. My arrogant German ass never thought of gas heating when I blurted out how unnecessary CO detectors were…
It was a long time ago. No worries.
It’s gas heating/cooking.
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.
