to want my son to have a carbon monoxide detector with him on holiday

[Continuewithfacebook]

18 YO DS is travelling around Europe staying in assorted accommodations, most of them for just the one night before he moves on to the next destination. Am I silly to want him to have a small portable carbon monoxide detector with him?

@GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife - yes I know. We are all electric here via district heating in cellular. No gas/ open fires/ oil/ burning pellets. It’s just hot water pumped via street and electric

It doesn’t have to be gas, I think it’s any fossil fuel eg an open fire.

It doesn’t have to be a fossil fuel. Any carbon containing fuel can produce CO when it is burnt. Wood, alcohol, biodiesel, methane etc.

Not silly at all. My friend nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a rented place and her dog died not in this country.

It might be worth looking at cex. I got my secondhand Apple Watch series 7 there for £160 with a decent warranty. I’ve bought electronics there previously and they’ve always been really good if something breaks down within warranty period.

@Camdenish

Which? Did a quality test on the detectors a good few years ago and found many were dangerous so I’d be careful which one I got.

How were some of them dangerous?

Like anything mention it but don't act hysterical about it, it is up to them

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
😂😂😂

I got that reference!

Yes.

You're anxious because your lad is going away travelling- of course you are and how could you not be!

Making him carry a carbon monoxide monitor isn't going to reduce your anxiety.

Op this is your worry, not your dsons- don’t lend him your anxiety, it drives me mad when parents do this. Offer up advice for sure but don’t stifle their joy by trying to enforce this. What else do you want them to do? Your issue with this has stuck after reading about it, it’s not actually based on any statistically significant evidence that this would happen to your son.

You can suggest it but he’s an adult and can decide himself. I’d be more concerned that he has condoms and sun cream!

You're not being silly at all. X

He's 18. An adult. Let him make up his own mind if he wants one. You really can't insist.

You need to let him go on holiday without your worries. Even if you bought one and gave it to him I'd expect it to either still be in its box when he came back or dumped in the airport departure lounge.

It’s not silly, but I remember travelling at this age and I agree that at best it will live at the bottom of his bag in reality. (And I was a very sensible cautious teen!)

I also agree that there are other hazards which are statistically much more likely and there’s a limit on how many warnings he will listen to - so I’d be more focused on precautions against theft, scams, STDs, drugs, alcohol poisoning etc.

Advise, don't insist. If you insist he will just ditch it anyway.

I’ve travelled a lot and have never met anyone who carries a carbon monoxide detector!

How were some of them dangerous?

Presumably, by not giving a warning when they should have done.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/carbon-monoxide-detectors/article/which-dont-buy-carbon-monoxide-detectors-a9GxE0v6cxi9

I imagine they’re dangerous as they do t work and give you a false sense of security.

I’d want a smoke alarm before a carbon monoxide one, as sure more people have died from being trapped and smoke inhalation/fire than carbon monoxide poisoning.

He's far more likely to die of fire than carbon monoxide poisoning, so perhaps he should take a smoke alarm, fire blanket and fire extinguisher.

But then, he's more likely to die in traffic than fire, so perhaps he should wear a crash helmet at all times.

But then, he's more likely to be a victim of street violence than die in traffic so perhaps he should pack a stab vest and a Taser.

But then, he's really really unlikely to suffer any of the above, and much much more likely to be affected by day-to-day hazards like sunburn, losing his passport or getting the clap. So focus on those.

Travel is inherently more hazardous that staying at home. But that's the point.

YABU.

Yes... silly and overprotective

Thanks for the info - it's useful to know such things. I was merely replying to OP's assertion about trackers and prices. A portable monitor seems a good idea but, depending on the individual of course, I'm not sure an 18 year old would even think to look at it.

We always take one with us on holiday! They save lives.

Did you take one on family holidays with your son?

If so, then presumably he'd think it was normal (although I don't know anyone who does this) and might not have a problem with it.

But if he is not accustomed to packing a CO detector for a holiday then I imagine he'll just think you're being weird and taking up space in his backpack with an annoying plasticky thing that he might need to take out of his bag at airport check-ins and which will start beeping annoyingly if the battery runs out.

I mean, by all means get him one if it makes you feel better, but when I was 18 I'd have put in the bin at the first opportunity.

I've always taken one with us when we've been staying in self catering places. I can't understand why people think it's a weird thing to do- yes the chances of a CO leak/build up are low but the consequences are potentially horrendous if there were to be one. For the sake of £20 and a tiny space in my luggage it seems a no-brainer to me?

I have a DC travelling in Europe - in hostels but also Airbnbs. I gave dc a small one to take. Why not? Yes of course there are many risks in travel but it's an easy, portable thing to carry. I try to remember to take one on holiday when I can.