Two found dead in rv

Johno02 wrote:
Please note that in this case, propane was not the cause of death! Yes propane can kill, but even worse is the fact that burning propane or any other flame creates carbon Monoxide. Propane will ignite or blow up. CO just kills you quitely. I don't really care for gas stoves in the RV or home, but this case was not the fault of the stove or the propane, but leaving a burner burning which used up all the propane after the people died from CO. The question is , why did the CO detector not wake them? Did they even have one?? I think that they are required in any house or RV where gas of any type is used. I think that the lack of warning in this case should be of more concern than the use of propane.

BTW, I checked with the local fire Dept and gas depts to find out how to test a CO detector. Neither had any idea except to push the test button, and had never heard of any other way. Seem like a small can of CO would be a good product for testing a detector. Of course, it could not contain enough gas to harm a person, just enough for a one-shot detector test.

A CO detector alarms due to a very high level of CO over a short period of time. However, it also alarms due to a low level of CO over a long period of time. For that reason it would be difficult to test even with a supply of CO available since the alarm is a function of both CO level and exposure time. Best to just use the button and replace the detector at the recommended interval.

Also, there is a common belief that CO is lighter than air and floats to the top of a room but that is not true. It usually rises only because it is a component of engine exhaust which is hotter than ambient. And we all know hot air rises.

As for using my idea of a Plexiglas plate. Feel free to make your own, get a patent or whatever. If it keeps you safer then go for it with my blessing.