REM Develops Interactive Map for Hotel CO Incidents
REM Risk Consultants’s Patrick Smith has developed an interactive map showing Carbon Monoxide (CO) incidents in the hospitality industry.
CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion from devices such as furnaces, pool heaters, automobiles, and gas ranges. Other devices and appliances may emit CO if they malfunction, are blocked, or are used improperly.
CO poisoning is the second most common cause of non-medicinal poisonings death. According to the CDC, over 10,000 are poisoned by carbon monoxide needing medical treatment each year and more than 438 people in the U.S. die annually from CO poisoning.
To date, there is no federal requirement for the installation of CO alarms in hotels and only 14 states require installation of CO alarms in hotels and motels under statute (http://www.ncsl.org). There are currently no requirements for carbon monoxide education and/or training of hotel owners and staff.
CO incidents in the hospitality industry are not currently tracked by any official government organization. The Jenkins Foundation (https://thejenkinsfoundation.com) maintains a list based on incidents obtained via media accounts and publicly accessible documents. We are using this data to generate our map, and adding to it as new incidents are identified.
The next time you travel for work or with your family, take a CO detector and double check our map to uncover the history of your hotel.
REM Risk Consultants assists clients with all aspects of Business Continuity and Resiliency, from health & safety and fire protection solutions to preparing for climate change. Contact us today for assistance with your next project.
