Travel safely: When and how to pack a carbon monoxide detector

Staying safe and healthy while traveling is key to making the most of your trip. Unfortunately, one health risk often falls below travelers' radar: Carbon monoxide.This deadly gas can cause trouble both at home and abroad, and "very few people know about it," says Chuck Heathco, founder of the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation, which works to raise awareness of the dangers of CO. The organization is named after Heathco's son, who, along with his girlfriend, passed away from acute carbon monoxide poisoning in 2023 at a luxury resort in Mexico.Other families have suffered similar tragedies. In 2025, a 14-year-old boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a Costa Rican resort, and three American tourists were killed in a Belize hotel with a faulty water heater that same year.The good news: There's a simple step you can take to mitigate your risk.Here's everything you need to know about traveling with a carbon monoxide detector.Why you shouldn't leave this off your packing listMASKOT/GETTY IMAGESOften described as a silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can leach into indoor spaces from fuel-burning appliances like heaters, ovens, fireplaces and more.Be...