Dire warnings from the RYA about Carbon Monoxide

[mikhalis]

Carbon Monoxide is plain deadly, especially in tents and boats where our desire for warmth often trumps our knowledge of the danger. Got a Kidde a few years ago from Asda iirc for about £15. Light and heat from a hurricane lamp and meths stove for cooking on a 20ft boat, it seemed common sense. I don't leave it onboard, it's small enough to hang up when onboard and take home when not. It worked in a damp and icy boat at subzero degrees inside in Dec '12 and has a good screech that you'd need to have drunk a bottle of rum to sleep through; also seems to work long before you'd think you may be experiencing any symptoms, which is reassuring. But as with anything it can go wrong without warning; there really is no substitute for proper ventilation and with small boats and carbon monoxide that can often mean opening more than just a few mushroom vents. As it's the spirit stoves more than anything else that seem to trigger it, when cooking, I've certainly started to open the main hatch a lot more since getting the CO detector.

 

[mjcoon]

We all go in the end Nigel.

Proper ventilation is far more effective than trusting a wee gadget that could be faulty.

That reminds me of my mother saying (relative to household cleaning) "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die!".

To which an adequate response is: "Who's in a hurry?".

Don't trust your gadgets to the extent of failing to maintain your burners. Unless, of course, you are indulging in assisted suicide...

Mike.

 

[PCUK]

On the plus side, in my experience it is a very pleasant way to die!

 

[GHA]

We all go in the end Nigel.

Proper ventilation is far more effective than trusting a wee gadget that could be faulty.

Why not both?

 

[GHA]

CO alarms are as cheap as chips now, I even bought one for home: http://amzn.to/1hdBDYJ

Thanks v much, just ordered one.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Perhaps someone should make an alarm to tell you when your alarm is not working

When I commission my charcoal heater I am going to pop up a couple of these as well as an electronic alarm:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carbon-Monoxide-CO-Detector-Monitor/dp/B005K7RVRI

Similar chemical detectors are standard in light aircraft and work very well.

 

[langstonelayabout]

As an aside, I noticed this week that Lidl sell own-brand condoms, not sure what message that sends to your partner.

Both Aldi and Lidl sell their own condom range and they're good; we've had no problems with any of them.

I guess it sends the message that you don't want any babies either )

 

[jimbaerselman]

On the plus side, in my experience it is a very pleasant way to die!

Wierd, eh. First post mortem post I've read.

 

[Seajet]

Wierd, eh. First post mortem post I've read.

Jimbaerselman,

( like the SC1 pic, I remember John Farley describing it as playing 5 organs all at once ! ) - if you look at ' The Lounge ' it seems a lot of the posts must be sent in via Oiuja Board...

Jumbleduck,

those alarm indicators lack the crucial thing, an audio alarm - how often would you really scan them while flying, presumably they're not on any checklist ?

I've never seen them in the light aircraft I flew in as a photographer ( I always took a keen interest in the instruments, lookout etc which now and again paid off ) - if a £20 Kidde CO job from Amazon with LCD readout, light and audio alarm would work in an aircraft it would seem very cheap and worth it by aviation standards.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Jumbleduck,

those alarm indicators lack the crucial thing, an audio alarm - how often would you really scan them while flying, presumably they're not on any checklist ?

The aircraft I have seen them in - mainly Piper glider tugs and a pal's Slingsby Firefly - had them on the instrument panel. The idea is to include them in the regular scan, so I don'tthink they'd appear on a checklist, just as I don't think "Look at the ASI" appears on a checklist. I agree about the lack of audio alarm (for a boat - who'd hear it over a Lycoming?) but I did say that I'll get an electronic alarm as well. In fact I have one, a dual watch, but I thin the LPG sensor in the bilge is stuffed so I'm going to have to change that.

 

[Daydream believer]

Yes, so was mine, well £16 plus shrapnel. This is the same seller, I guess the price has crept up.

As to buying one in Asda or Lidl, I would suggest that's fine if they are a well-known brand.

As an aside, I noticed this week that Lidl sell own-brand condoms, not sure what message that sends to your partner.

They wouldn't put it in cigarettes if it was bad for you...

What --condoms?

fuss about nothing....

i tell you something pal--A dodgy condom can cause a lot more grief than a whole lungful of CO
You might end up wishing you had had the CO

 

[Sandy]

On the plus side, in my experience it is a very pleasant way to die!

But does leave you an interesting colour for those finding your mortal remains.

Best not ask how I know, but it was not a good day.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Jimbaerselman,

like the SC1 pic, I remember John Farley describing it as playing 5 organs all at once !

XG900. Now pinned to the roof of the Science museum. First airplane with triplicated, all electronic control signalling.

those alarm indicators lack the crucial thing, an audio alarm - how often would you really scan them while flying, presumably they're not on any checklist ?

Indeed. Alarm design criteria: "Attention getters permanently within your field of view must flash and be obvious in all lighting conditions. Those requiring immediate action should also be audible in all likely ambient sound situations. Those outside your field of view must have a sound distinctive to the type of alarm, and urgency of action required"

An engine fire alarm on a Lightning was a call for immediate ejection. You couldn't miss it.

The same urgency of action is required when CO is detected. It's a life threat. It must be audible to sleepers in a gale.

 

[GHA]

CO alarms are as cheap as chips now, I even bought one for home: http://amzn.to/1hdBDYJ

This could be the best £20 you will ever spend, and will have enough change for those chips

One turned up yesterday, those things are sensitive! I set it off last night just by using a gas soldering iron for a while.