Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas that can be fatal if inhaled, and the risk is not limited to the home.
While often associated with household appliances, CO can also pose a serious danger when you’re away from home – particularly in unfamiliar accommodation, tents, caravans or boats where fuel-burning appliances are present or poorly maintained.
Symptoms of CO poisoning – such as headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness and confusion – can be mistaken for flu or food poisoning, making early recognition difficult. Because CO can build up quickly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, prevention and awareness are key to staying safe while travelling.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
For an up-to-date overview of carbon monoxide risks for travellers, read Travel health update: November-December 2025 on Practice Nurse. You can also find valuable real-world insight and safety advice in Jane Chiodini’s blog post Carbon monoxide risks while travelling. For practical guidance on staying safe, including the importance of CO alarms, see the Safer Tourism Foundation’s Pack CO Safe campaign.
- Travel health update November-December 2025 – Practice Nurse (Jane Chiodini)
https://www.practicenurse.co.uk/articles/travel/travel-health-update-november-december-2025 - Carbon monoxide risks while travelling – Jane Chiodini’s Blog
https://janechiodini.blogspot.com/2025/10/carbon-monoxide-risks-while-travelling.html - Pack CO Safe – Safer Tourism Foundation
https://www.safertourism.org.uk/pack-co-safe
