KWJ Engineering Carbon Monoxide Detector

by Jon Solberg, MD, FACEP, FAWM

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, invisible, poisonous gas formed during the combustion of carbon-based materials (petroleum products, wood, etc). Small exposures mimic “the flu,” but large exposures cause seizure, brain damage, dangerous heart rhythms, and even death (especially in the elderly and unborn). Anyone who sleeps in his vehicle or runs a tent heater is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. KWJ Engineering, Inc manufactures a keychain sized CO detector. The Pocket CO Carbon Monoxide Detector alerts users to the presence of CO and can be programmed to alarm based on gas concentration or cumulative dose. I’ve carried mine for four years now, on overland trips (across Greenland during the Expeditions 7 crossing) and while flying in small airplanes. It’s only gone off once, while running a heater inside a tent on a very cold day. While I suffered no ill effects, it’s nice to know that if I had fallen asleep, the 82dB buzzer would have woken me in a nanosecond. The $139 price tag is a small price to pay for your safety, especially when working in enclosed garages or camping inside a vehicle.

http://www.detectcarbonmonoxide.com/