When organizing a holiday, many tourists create highly detailed travel plans, bring along an excess of clothing items that they probably won’t require, and investigate the securest areas as well as the top-rated pubs and eateries to check out.
Nevertheless, only a small number of people take precautions to protect themselves against carbon monoxide poisoning during their stays at hotels.
Airbnb
rentals, and that, according to Kris Hauschildt, founder of the Jenkins Foundation, needs to change urgently.
After her parents, Daryl and Shirley Jenkins, succumbed to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning at a hotel in Boone, Hauschildt founded the Jenkins Foundation.
North Carolina
In April 2013, she began advocating for reforms related to carbon monoxide detectors in hotels and rentals. She also informs travelers about the risks posed by this “silent killer” gas.
Each year, CO poisoning leads to the deaths of more than 400 Americans and causes illness in over 100,000 others, according to data.
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention shows.
The danger of the gas lies in its difficulty to be detected, as Hauschildt explained to SANGGRALOKA.
Carbon monoxide is undetectable by smell, taste, or sight. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similarly hard to identify because they frequently resemble those of other ailments, like common flu-like illnesses.
flu
Or food poisoning, which travelers frequently hesitate to get treated for, Hauschildt mentioned.
In recent weeks, two cases of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning involving American tourists overseas have come to light.
Last month, Miller Gardner, who is 14 years old and the son of ex-New York Yankees player Brett Gardner, was discovered deceased in a hotel room in Costa Rica. Local authorities have preliminarily indicated that carbon monoxide poisoning may be the cause, suggesting it appears to match such an incident.
In late February, three female tourists visiting San Pedro, Belize—Kaoutar Naqqad aged 23, Imane Mallah aged 24, and Wafae El Arar aged 26—were discovered deceased within their accommodations at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. The cause of death was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hauschildt mentioned that she feels constant anguish whenever she hears about new deaths caused by carbon monoxide, noting it’s heartbreaking to witness these incidents continuing when they could be so readily prevented.
“I have been tracking this issue over the past 12 years, and it remains significantly misconstrued. Moreover, it’s a concern that most travelers remain oblivious to,” she stated.
We lack the innate capability to identify the poison directly, hence as individuals who frequently move from one place to another, we should equip ourselves with knowledge on the most effective ways to safeguard against it irrespective of your destination—be it a hotel, a holiday rental, or perhaps even a family member’s residence.
Carbon monoxide poisoning happens when significant amounts of CO fumes are breathed in, leading to an oxygen deficiency in the body that can result in harm to the brain, heart, and other crucial organs.
Common adverse effects may encompass migraines, lightheadedness, impaired eyesight, nausea, loss of strength, thoracic discomfort, and disorientation.
CO is generated when fuels such as gasoline, wood, propane, or charcoal are burned. This leads to many unintentional poisoning cases, frequently due to faulty equipment like heating systems, air conditioners, and generators.
Hauschildt stated that victims are particularly defenseless when they are asleep.
Regarding Miller Gardner’s situation, local authorities stated on Monday that a ‘machinery area’ next to the family’s hotel room experienced an unidentified contamination and was found to have elevated levels of the gas.
The hotel has contested the official conclusions, and Gardner’s family is awaiting a toxicology report to determine the reason behind the teen’s demise.
In Belize, authorities stated that they think the fatalities of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar resulted from a faulty water heater located within the ladies’ restroom.
Two visitors staying at the Royal Kahal following the discovery of the deceased women felt ill due to carbon monoxide exposure. They informed SANGGRALOKA that although thankful to have avoided a similar tragic end, they now regret not recognizing the signs sooner and taking additional precautions to safeguard themselves. This realization left them feeling somewhat foolish.
Hauschildt suggested that the most effective method to protect yourself is by carrying a portable carbon monoxide alarm and understanding how it works prior to starting your journey.
The sole method to detect carbon monoxide exposure is through a detector, hence it’s crucial to carry one when traveling. This ensures you can become alerted, leave your surroundings immediately, and contact 911, especially if located within a public facility, thus preventing potential fatalities and injuries to others.
We often believe that when we stay in hotels or other public buildings, we are secure and adequate safeguards are already provided. However, the absence of regulations for installing carbon monoxide detectors poses a significant issue. Therefore, it’s crucial to take matters into our own hands.
Hauschildt added: “This genuinely is a widespread issue, and it should be acknowledged as such.”
We should not treat carbon monoxide as if its behavior changes based on the type of building it’s in.
Carbon monoxide exhibits consistent behavior, and the most effective way to counteract it is by installing carbon monoxide detectors in suitable locations—ensuring these regulations are upheld regardless of geographical location.
The two visitors staying at the Royal Kahal following the fatalities of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar—whom Sanggraloka recognizes as ‘Jane’ and ‘Alice’—mentioned that they carried a carbon monoxide detector but were uncertain about using it correctly.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests placing a portable detector close to sleeping zones inside hotels or rented properties, making sure the alert is sufficiently loud to rouse you during slumber.
Hauschildt mentioned that despite hotels or rentals having carbon monoxide detectors, it’s crucial to carry your own when traveling internationally since the destination country might lack adequate safety protocols.
Following the media coverage of the three fatalities in Belize within the United States, Jane and Alice contacted the Royal Kahal to inquire whether it remained secure for them to continue their stay at the seaside resort.
On February 25, a worried Jane messaged the hotel via Facebook, querying, “Is it safe to visit?” These messages were provided to SANGGRALOKAshow.
In reply, a spokesperson named ‘Daniel’ confirmed that she should not worry about any safety concerns at the Royal Kahal. He stated that the ‘unfortunate event’ with Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar was beyond their jurisdiction.
“Although we’re still awaiting an official statement from the authorities, all indications suggest this was likely due to a drug overdose,” penned Daniel.
‘Although these conditions are regrettable, the hotel had no means of avoiding these fatalities.’
The hotel representative additionally guaranteed Jane that each suite at the Royal Kahal was equipped with both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, further stating: “you can be confident that your visit here will be entirely worry-free.”
Alice sent an identical message to the hotel but did not get any reply.
The pair of women, together with their circle of friends, proceeded with their plans and reached the island of San Pedro on March 1 – exactly seven days following the discovery of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar’s lifeless bodies.
Right away, Jane and Alice mentioned, they noticed something amiss.
Although the employees were friendly, numerous notices were posted throughout the hotel indicating that they would be performing smoke detector inspections the next day from 9 AM to 3 PM.
The women did not hear any fire drill alarms during their stay, but upon returning to their room on the second day of their trip, they discovered that all the smoke detectors had been taken off the walls.
At that point, inquiries regarding the fatalities of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar were continuing; however, regional authorities had declared in public that carbon monoxide was not likely involved, stating that preliminary examinations did not reveal anything suspicious at the site.
Intrigued about the removal of the detectors, Alice contacted the reception to inquire if they needed to be reinstalled. However, she was informed not to do so and was asked to place them on the countertop instead, where they stayed throughout her entire visit.
On March 5th, and most of the following day, March 6th, both the gas supply and hot water were discontinued. The gas service faced another cutoff on March 8th.
Given subsequent events, the women think that shutting off the gas and water was the hotel’s way of trying to manage the high carbon monoxide levels found within the resort, which local authorities were said to have discovered later.
“I genuinely hope we had scrutinized it more back then, but we truly didn’t believe there was anything amiss,” stated Alice.
It was a pleasant place to stay, and when you’re on vacation, you don’t expect to worry about things like carbon monoxide poisoning or strange accidents ruining your sleep for the next day.
I mean, we were already aware of not consuming tap water or being cautious with specific foods sold on the streets, so we weren’t entirely uninformed.
However, we were informed that the hotel was the latest addition to the island and came equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. Given how expensive the suite was, we simply assumed it would be secure.
After five days into the journey, Jane experienced a fright.
Early in the morning, she woke up to discover that her left leg had become entirely numb, accompanied by feelings of dizziness, blurry vision, and a persistent headache.
When trying to stand up to head to the bathroom, Jane mentioned that she fell onto the floor and remained there for about 40 minutes, paralyzed and unable to move.
Following this, she remained beside the open window for another three hours until she could move freely once more.
Jane mentioned that her symptoms lasted for a week after she got back home.
Alice and her fellow travelers were also encountering unusual symptoms such as blurry sight, weariness, and persistent migraines — indicators commonly associated with carbon monoxide intoxication.
“My symptoms weren’t as severe as Jane’s; I mainly experienced headaches along with some blurry vision,” explained Alice.
It was terrible; I recall saying to my spouse that I had to locate my glasses, and they responded that they were already perched on my nose.
Only upon returning home, following a string of reports from SANGGRALOKA, did the two women connect their symptoms to potential carbon monoxide poisoning.
They simply thought they were experiencing typical exhaustion associated with travel overseas and excessive exposure to sunlight.
Alice carried a portable carbon monoxide detector but admitted she didn’t know how to use it since she hadn’t tested it prior to their departure.
She maintained the detector in her bedroom, positioned as far as possible from the suite’s kitchen and water heater.
Alice mentioned that as she was preparing herself one morning, she glanced down and noticed the phrase “three digits” displayed on the CO detector’s screen.
“I can’t recall whether it was in the hundreds, two hundreds, or three hundreds, or something else,” said Alice.
However, it wasn’t until I returned home, emptied my suitcase, and noticed it said 0 that I understood something must have been amiss at the hotel.
Now I feel incredibly foolish because we should have been more cautious. However, we were informed that the other visitors had succumbed to an overdose, which led us not to consider carbon monoxide at all.
The text message from the U.S. Embassy they received on March 7th, the final evening of their trip, was what truly unsettled Jane, Alice, and their companions.
The team had spent the day drinking aboard a boat circling the island when they got back to land and noticed multiple missed calls along with a voicemail urgently asking them to contact the embassy immediately.
A guy friend called, and he was informed that it would be ‘in their best interest to exit the hotel and look for another place to spend the night.’
When the male friend inquired about the reason, the embassy declined to provide further details, stating that it was solely for their safety considerations.
Jane, Alice, and their party went back to the hotel only to discover multiple people in suits stationed in the hotel’s lobby.
A person whom Jane thinks served as Royal Kahal’s general manager told them that the hotel would close for the week. However, they were given the choice to remain until their last night if they deemed it safe enough to stay.
After spending the entire day out partying and having limited options left on such short notice, they opted to spend the night at the hotel.
They were the sole occupants of the premises that evening and departed for the United States the following day.
Alice mentioned that upon returning home, she contacted the embassy and learned that multiple rooms at the hotel had been discovered to have elevated levels of carbon monoxide.
The embassy chose not to comment and directed SANGGRALOKA inquiries to local authorities, who received several requests for clarification.
Over the past few weeks, a toxicology report has verified that Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar all succumbed to acute pulmonary edema—a buildup of fluid in their lungs—caused by inhaling excessive amounts of carbon monoxide.
The local authorities suspect that a faulty water heater in the ladies’ restroom was responsible for causing their fatalities.
Every woman who was tested showed carbon monoxide saturation levels of approximately 60 percent. Levels as low as 40 percent can be fatal.
In a statement to SANGGRALOKA, a representative from Royal Kahal stated that the fatalities were considered an ‘isolated incident.’ They also mentioned that the hotel has resumed its operations.
The statement, dated March 26, indicated that although the official cause of the tragic incident had not yet been announced by the authorities, early signs suggested that the toxicology report would likely attribute the deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Since the moment this secluded incident came to light, we have taken every conceivable measure to guarantee the safety of the Resort. It has been open to visitors again starting from March 19th.
‘We have collaborated with the Belizean government, and local authorities have carried out several thorough evaluations of each section of the premises. All these inspections confirmed that none of the areas exhibit hazardous concentrations of carbon monoxide.’
This tragedy has profoundly impacted everyone at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Our thoughts are with the families and beloved ones of the young women during this immensely challenging period.
The Chief Medical Examiner’s office in the women’s home state of Massachusetts is carrying out a second autopsy for the three individuals, with the process still continuing.
The hotel has yet to comment on what Jane and Alice have claimed.
A comment posted on the hotel’s TripAdvisor page mentioned that another visitor reported “alarmingly high” carbon monoxide levels during their stay in February.
Jane and Alice express feeling immensely fortunate to have experienced just slight symptoms, yet their hearts ache for the families of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar.
Their hearts also ache for the family of Miller Gardner.
‘It’s just all so tragic,’ said Jane.
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