Don't take an 'out' BBQ in to a tent/ boat cabin

Bump.

Bumping this.

I think it's easier to forget now tents are bigger and often with kitchen areas now days

We've been tempted in the horrendous rain to cook in our porch, (under cover but doesn't feel in the tent) but i knew stories of similar tragedies.

Like a previous op, we once had a bbq close to the door that the wind definitely impacted the tent and made us woozy when we went to bed. The person with the bbq was sat outside, but clearly not far enough away.

I doubt it's often people having them in sleeping areas but simply in the main compartment (which can be huge!) Or in porches too close to sleeping areas with poor ventilation.

Absolutely. My dad who was a paramedic told me only a few weeks ago about a job he went to years ago (because we were driving past the campsite) of a young boy who died from this when it started raining so the parents took the bbq into the tent. My dad remembered it well as it was such an upsetting case for him.

Well reported op, just adding that every home should have a couple of alarms set up and boilers and gas fires should be serviced every year.

I think some of the tragedies may have been people wild camping.

This is pretty chilling (excuse the phrase) on one of our first camping trips together, (about 23 years ago,) me and DH brought the bbq in overnight to keep our small 2 man tent warm. It was years later that i read about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, very sobering. We were very lucky

OP is taking about after they have been used though, where people think they are safe

I’ve never noticed that but to be honest even if it did I’d assume due to fire risk not carbon monoxide possibly.

i did know about this though due to previous cases. Most big campsites now have posters up.

also if you have a caravan or camper van please have a carbon monoxide alarm, ideally two. My life was saved by mine in my caravan but I was quite poorly.

Surely it says so on the item, i.e not be used inside or under cover.

It says that on every burner, BBQ and bag of BBQ fuel I've ever seen. TBF I'm in Australia, where the rules might well be different.

I wouldn’t even use any kind of camping cooking equipment near the tent. It happened to my friend, cooking with it just outside the tent. She died at 18. Scared the shit out of me.

Meant to add - In fact, we’d taken a CO alarm with us - not because we’d any intention of using bbqs but in case we ended up moored near to someone else using one or running their engine. It’s probably a good idea to take one camping, having just read the link about deaths due to bbqs or other devices such as a generator outside tents.

Thanks OP. I was glad when the briefing when we hired a boat recently mentioned this issue - we knew but it’s not obvious to most people.

Thank you for this post as common sense to have gone out the windows these days, i can't believe people need to be told but yes it kills

thanks for this, never thought about it

Good to raise awareness on this. The sad case reported above of the couple from West Lothian prompted me to remind teen DS about this as he’s planning on camping with friends this summer. It’s one of those “if you didn’t know you didn’t know” things isn’t it.

@Justyouwaitandseeagain how awful. I'm so very sorry.

Anything burning a carbon-based fuel (gas, charcoal, coal, wood...) will produce CO2 (carbon dioxide) as one of its products of combustion. The burning doesn't have to be flames – charring will do just as well.

If there is inadequate supply of oxygen (usually in the form of ordinary fresh air) coming into the space where the burning is taking place, then instead of CO2 the combustion will start forming CO (carbon monoxide - because not enough O).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning

Was this post prompted by the current case in Scotland? (apologies for the dreadful advert laden link).

Thankfully there is a much more education around now around this matter. DoE are informing all their students. MoD are also educating and CO monitors are more commonly used. There has been incidents in the military caused by fires being too close to tents, vehicles also. This is a message that cannot be repeated enough, until everyone is aware.

Many people do no realise that even when the BBQ appears extinguished, there is often combustion still occurring deep in the coals/ash that continue to produce CO, as long as there is heat, available oxygen is being used and CO is being produced. Permanently installed items such as cookers and heaters are vented and exhausted, but still require regular testing, maintenance and use of CO monitoring to be safe.

Be safe, and spread the message to anyone you know that camps.

I have lost both a friend and a family member to carbon monoxide poisoning in different circumstances - one from a barbecue while camping and one from a faulty boiler . Please spread the word and don't assume people know. Have carbon monoxide alarms and take one on holiday with you too.

Because your oven isn't burning solid fuel

https://www.co-gassafety.co.uk/six-deaths-from-co-from-the-use-of-barbecues-in-the-last-year/

@Poopeepoopee, I think it's because your oven will either be electric (so there won't be any incomplete combustion) or gas (so there won't be any incomplete combustion once the gas has been turned off).

Whereas barbecue briquettes can seem to be distinguished, but there could actually still be some incomplete combustion happening and carbon monoxide being produced.

Unfortunately it seems to happen every year, inexperienced campers get cold and use a gas cooker inside the tent or a BBQ and sadly die in the night.
I used to sell the little cookers and would always tell every customer not to take them inside the tent, most didn't have a clue.
Thankfully most campsites have noticed around warning people now too.