Holiday Travel Safety Tips: Stay Safe from Carbon Monoxide and Battery Risks

Discover holiday travel safety tips to avoid carbon monoxide risks and stay safe with lithium-ion batteries. Learn how to protect yourself and enjoy a worry-free holiday journey.

Fly Safely With Lithium-Ion Batteries

Damaged or malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries may slip into thermal runaway, an uncontrollable, self-heating state that can end in fire.

Why do lithium batteries catch fire on planes?

Many of the devices that make travel more enjoyable, such as earbuds, tablets, cellphones, and portable chargers, are powered by lithium-ion batteries. If the batteries are defective or damaged, there is danger of thermal runaway — scary anywhere, but more so at 40,000 feet.

These incidents are extremely rare. They are also completely avoidable. Increasing awareness of the issue, and what to do if lithium-ion battery powered devices heat up during the flight, will help reduce the risk.

Follow these tips to prevent battery fires on planes:

1. Know the products you travel with that contain lithium-ion batteries, the warning signs of thermal runaway, and to alert a flight attendant if your device is stuck in your seat.
2. Never put devices containing lithium-ion batteries in your checked luggage; keep them within reach.
3. Avoid charging lithium-ion battery devices while in flight.

Protect Yourself Against Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Traveling to hotels during the holidays should be a fun and festive experience. Knowing how to mitigate risks helps ensure that it is. One of the most significant — albeit unlikely — risks is carbon monoxide poisoning. Most travelers assume their hotel or rental property has carbon monoxide alarms installed; however, only a minority of states require alarms.

What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? 

An odorless and colorless threat, carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 people and sends more than 100,000 to the emergency department in the U.S. each year. Carbon monoxide is found in fumes produced by furnaces, kerosene heaters, vehicles, stoves and gas ranges, portable generators, pool heaters, and more. Detection is often the first, and sometimes only, means to prevent tragedy. 

Follow these tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning while traveling:

1. Ask your hotel or rental property if it has carbon monoxide alarms; if present, test the device when you arrive at your hotel.
2. Bring a portable carbon monoxide alarm with you when you travel.
3. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, including headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and confusion.

This holiday season, make travel safety a priority. From lithium-ion battery precautions on flights to portable carbon monoxide alarms in hotels, a few simple actions can ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday trip.