This Portable CO Detector Can Save Your Life

Common symptoms of CO poisoning – such as headache, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea – are similar to symptoms of other illnesses, especially those that come down easily while traveling. You may think you have food poisoning, the flu, COVID-19, or a migraine, or that you just drank too much.

“If you have a headache, you’re not going to call the fire department,” said Kris Hauschildt, founder of the Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing CO-related deaths and injuries. Hauschildt lost both of his parents to carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel in North Carolina.

And most CO-related deaths occur while the person is asleep, so some people may have no symptoms at all.

All of that is to say: A detector may be the only way you know you have carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fortunately, CO devices are compact, readily available for purchase, and inexpensive. Unlike smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms do not need to be installed because CO has the same mass as air; as a result, most residential detectors sold today are plug-in devices that also have battery backup. These are perfectly fit for travel as long as they comply with the UL 2034 standard, which reflects the latest safety regulations for such devices. Packing plug-in alarms for your home to take on vacation can be especially helpful if you’d like to have a few for a larger rental property.

But it may help to find a dedicated, portable, battery-operated CO alarm that you can keep with your travel gear and that you won’t have to remember to pack or return to its original location.

Doug Mahoney, who writes The Wirecutter’s Guide to Smoke Alarms, recommends the First Alert CO710 Carbon Monoxide Alarm, a battery-powered detector that’s about the size of two iPhones and weighs less than half a pound. It can be slipped into the front pocket of the car you are riding in.

While we haven’t extensively tested CO detectors as a category, we have tested combined fire alarms and CO detectors, and Doug is confident in this recommendation.

Currently, only two established manufacturers of residential smoke alarms, First Alert and Kidde, are rigorously tested to ensure that their products meet UL standards, as indicated by the UL or EUR symbol on the back of the device. “This certification is a pass/fail test for us,” Doug said. “If a company has it, we will consider its products, if the company does not have it, we will not consider its products.”

Unfortunately, Kidde’s track record with its products is “disturbing,” according to Doug, due to a chronic history of major recalls. That makes First Alert the last one standing.

We also think First Alert devices are well-built and easy to use. For travel, a battery-powered CO detector has an advantage over a plug-in model: Not only is it small and able to operate without taking up valuable space, but also, if you’re traveling internationally, you won’t have to deal with an adapter to travel with it. You can also place it at eye level so you don’t forget to pack it when you travel.

Also, the lithium battery should last 10 years. Note that because of that battery, you may want to slip the detector into your carry-on or personal item instead of your carry-on bag.

Unless the detector issues an alert (or test), the display automatically shows the temperature, a nice feature that I like. It allows you to forget about the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning while keeping you protected.

If you’re in a hotel room, you can just put the detector on the nightstand. If you rent an entire house, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends installing a detector on every floor. (Some sources go further, recommending detectors on every floor and in every bedroom.) If you only have one detector, the EPA suggests placing it near sleeping areas and making sure it’s loud enough to wake you up.

If your carbon monoxide detector just beeps, it’s either malfunctioning or needs a new battery. But if it continues to go out, get out into the fresh air immediately (or open the windows if not) and call 911.