Generator asphyxiates camper

[DiskDoctr]

Sad story, local people away from home.

http://www.wjactv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.pa/28f52aba-www.wjactv.com.shtml#.UgRV3G12n...

Camper dies from carbon monoxide poisoning August 08, 2013 16:48 EDT CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Allegany County Sheriff's Department says a camper at the fairgrounds in Cresaptown has died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Deputies say 75-year-old William E. Miller of Windber, Pa., was pronounced dead Thursday morning at his RV. His wife, 76-year-old, Ruth L. Miller, was taken to a hospital in Cumberland. Officials say the Millers started a gas generator near the rear of their RV shortly before going to sleep Wednesday night.

Deputies say the generator was only several feet from the recreation vehicle, with its exhaust pointing toward the RV. Officials say the couple fell asleep with the generator running, and exhaust fumes entered the RV.

The couple was discovered Thursday morning.

Notice the generator was running OUTSIDE the camper. Be careful out there. God rest his soul.

[northmeck0255]

Do you guys also turn off your furnace or AquaHot at night?

[northmeck0255]

So, if you are Wallydocking in Las Vegas and it's 110F, you guys are going to turn the genny off and sleep without a/c???

[powderman426]

retired4fun2002 wrote:
Sorry for the lose of life. I hear about the CO2 Detectors, etc., but I definitely would never go to sleep with a generator running, no matter where it is located. I can't see the need for one while you sleep. Let's all stay safe out there.

Remember that the generator is not the only device that can kill you. The furnace, refrigerator and water heater can as well.

[RoyB]

Usually where we go camping it is not allowed to run the generator past 7:30-8PM at night... Guess that may be a blessing in disguise..

My generator normally sits secured on the tail gate corner of the truck bed when I am using it during the allowed generator run times and I have set off our detector a few times. I now always point it away from my trailer as well of any close-by neighbors...


We all take thing for granted it seems...

Roy Ken

[mlts22]

I recommend people always have at least one other CO detector that is battery powered, perhaps two if the rig is large.

Here in Texas, I do understand the need to run a generator at night sometimes, mainly because some nights don't cool off until 2-3 in the morning.

I am pretty sure a Gen-Turi is the fix for this. I wish Onan would make (or "bless") a model, because as it stands now, the generator stacks can void the warranty.

[retired4fun2002]

Sorry for the lose of life. I hear about the CO2 Detectors, etc., but I definitely would never go to sleep with a generator running, no matter where it is located. I can't see the need for one while you sleep. Let's all stay safe out there.

[Vulcaneer]

I normally am a pretty diligent guy. But I remember back years ago when staying overnight at a Flying J. It was 10 Degrees that night. We ran our EU2000 Honda all night so we could have our furnace run. Battery was weak. Placed Gen on the ground under the rear bumper. And locked it to the bumper with a bicycle chain lock. Exhaust was pointing out. Never occurred to me that CO would enter our 5'r.

I rarely use our gen. This post is sad. But a very good reminder for everybody.

[powderman426]

fla-gypsy wrote:
That is so sad and preventable. This type of incident is why it gripes my behind so much on this forum when some of us try to talk genuinely about safety, hazard recognition and risk management and we get all the snarky comments from those who think nothing will ever happen to them. It may not, but it happened to these people and it didn't have to. To way to many people here, "Safety" is just a buzzword and means absolutely nothing.

X2. There is no good reason for anyone to be without a CO and smoke detecter. Also I will add that one should also have a TPMS. Especially if you have a trailer or fiver. Knowing that a tire is having problems could save you some grief, money and maybe your life.

BTW the CO detecter should apply to your home also. Thankfully I had one and it saved my life when the furnace malfunctioned.

[Big_Katuna]

Sad, but totally preventable. We have slept hundreds of nights in RVs running the gen all night. This was a stand alone gen, no stack. Obviously no CO detector. As is usually the case, it was not one single mistake but a combination of events lining up.
Exhaust pointing the wrong way, no stack, no CO detector and probably an open window.

[fla-gypsy]

That is so sad and preventable. This type of incident is why it gripes my behind so much on this forum when some of us try to talk genuinely about safety, hazard recognition and risk management and we get all the snarky comments from those who think nothing will ever happen to them. It may not, but it happened to these people and it didn't have to. To way to many people here, "Safety" is just a buzzword and means absolutely nothing.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

Life's too short to risk running a genny under your coach while you sleep. Never ever do it, and there's no chance of dying from it.

[Grey_Mountain]

I never run my generator at night, and I also make sure I have a functioning detector.
On Class A pushers, the generator (at least on mine) is in the front. On my former gas Class A, it was, as stated, under the bedroom.

GM

[kckettridge]

So sad....

[Harvey51]

Have a care for the neighbours, too.

[Dakzuki]

You can buy CO detectors that actually measure the CO level and display it which is nice if you are worried that levels are elevating.