Carbon monoxide poisoning during family vacations is rare but preventable, and the risk is real enough that safety experts now recommend parents pack a portable detector alongside their luggage. More than 150 carbon monoxide (CO) related incidents occur each year in short-term lodging across the United States, including hotels, motels, and vacation rentals, according to research cited by safety experts. That figure likely underestimates the true number, since many incidents go unreported. The tragedy underscores a troubling gap: only 14 states currently mandate carbon monoxide detectors in short-term lodging, leaving families vulnerable to a colorless, odorless gas that can cause death or permanent neurological damage .

The risks became starkly visible in early 2025. In March, retired Yankee player Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, died of carbon monoxide poisoning while on a trip to Costa Rica. A month earlier, three Americans died in a hotel room in Belize, likely due to a faulty water heater. Within the United States, people have died in hotels after CO exposure from pool heaters, ventilation systems, boilers, and blocked vents .

Why Carbon Monoxide Is So Dangerous for Children and Families?

Carbon monoxide is emitted when fuel burns in appliances such as gas stoves, water heaters, and dryers. When it replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, it can cause immediate symptoms like headache, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. But here's the problem: these symptoms mimic common travel illnesses. A parent might assume their child has food poisoning, the flu, COVID-19, or a migraine, rather than recognizing the warning signs of CO poisoning .

Even more concerning, many CO-related deaths occur while people are sleeping, meaning some victims experience no symptoms at all before losing consciousness. And if CO poisoning doesn't result in death, it can still cause lasting harm. Long-term neurological problems, including personality changes and intellectual impairment, can persist even after what appears to be only mild or moderate exposure. While children, older adults, and pregnant people face higher risks, anyone of any age and health status can be affected .

"If you have a headache, you're not going to call the fire department," said Kris Hauschildt, founder of the Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of CO-related deaths and injuries. Hauschildt lost both her parents to carbon monoxide poisoning at a hotel in North Carolina.

Kris Hauschildt, Founder of the Jenkins Foundation

Why Hotels Aren't Required to Protect Guests?

The regulatory landscape for CO safety in lodging is surprisingly weak. Only 14 states have statutes that mandate carbon monoxide detectors in short-term lodging, which includes hotels and resorts. Even those statutes are not always comprehensive; some require detectors only in new buildings or in guest rooms containing or adjacent to fuel-burning appliances .

There is no federal agency that specifically tracks CO incidents in lodging, making it difficult to assess how widespread the problem truly is. Deaths in vacation rentals through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo aren't tracked at all. While rental sites allow you to search for properties with CO alarms installed, there's no guarantee those alarms will be functioning when you arrive. Alarms made before 2010 may not have end-of-life signals, which means a detector could be completely non-functional without the owner knowing .

The lodging industry has historically resisted updates to safety codes. The New York Times previously reported that the lodging industry has lobbied against updates to the International Fire Code in the past, creating a situation where many vacation destinations remain unprotected by law .

How to Protect Your Family While Traveling?

• Pack a portable detector: A battery-operated, portable carbon monoxide detector is small enough to fit in a carry-on pocket and requires no electrical outlet, making it ideal for international travel where adapters may be needed.
• Check detector functionality: If your rental lists a CO detector on the listing, test it immediately upon arrival to confirm it's working properly, especially if the property is older.
• Know the symptoms: Familiarize yourself with CO poisoning signs including headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and confusion. If multiple family members experience these symptoms simultaneously, consider CO exposure and leave the building immediately.
• Verify safety standards: When selecting a portable detector, ensure it meets the UL 2034 standard, which reflects the latest safety regulations for CO detection devices.
• Position strategically: Place your detector at eye level in the bedroom or main living area so you won't forget to pack it when leaving, and so it's visible if an alarm sounds during the night.

A portable, battery-operated detector offers several advantages over relying on hotel-provided equipment. It's compact, lightweight, and doesn't require being plugged in, which is particularly useful when traveling internationally. A quality detector with a lithium battery can last approximately 10 years, making it a one-time investment for years of family vacations .

The bottom line: CO poisoning is preventable with a good-quality detector. While the risk of dying from CO while traveling is lower than other travel-related dangers like car accidents, the consequences are severe enough that experts now recommend treating a portable CO detector as essential travel safety gear, just like a first-aid kit or travel insurance. For families with young children, older adults, or pregnant members, the investment in a portable detector is a simple way to eliminate an invisible threat that hotels and vacation rentals may not address .