Sad news in Metro

[190]

The CO emissions for an old classic car could be as high as 4.5% (45,000 ppm). So once a tent has filled with exhaust fumes that's more than enough concentration to be lethal very quickly:

6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

 

[Bellow]

The next accident waiting to happen is a newish car considered safe running in a confined space but isn't safe because it has been de-catted without those in the vicinity being aware of that.

The smarter ones will treat all cars' exhausts as potentially lethal (cats can and do fail).

 

[grober]

From various reports but it would appear that Bill Reid had been overcome first in the car, Kathryn Workman had gone to assist him but began to be overcome herself and had to withdraw. She had then phoned the ambulance/emergency services for assistance. Due to a misunderstanding [ she may have been mentally impaired by this point by the effects of CO] the call handler had advised her to return to Bill Reid to administer first aid till the emergency services arrived . She tried to do this but subsequently collapsed. When the ambulance crew arrived they deemed it too hazardous to attempt a rescue till the Fire Brigade arrived with breathing apparatus. Bill Reid was pronounced dead at the scene and Kathryn died in hospital two days later. The timeline from the first emergency phone call to when the fire brigade arrived is unclear.

ps Macabre as it may seem to go over the details of this tragic incident it perhaps serves a purpose to warn other enthusiasts of the hazards of such storage devices.
After all their manufacturer publicity is never going to read " Wanting to protect that treasured car from the elements? --- pop it into your own portable gas chamber! "

 

[Bellow]

The CO emissions for an old classic car could be as high as 4.5% (45,000 ppm). So once a tent has filled with exhaust fumes that's more than enough concentration to be lethal very quickly:
.

Possibly worse than that if the engine had just been started from cold.

A very sad story made all the more so by the woman's attempts to save her husband which cost her her life too.
All we can do is learn from the mistake and be extra vigilant.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

A very sad story made all the more so by the woman's attempts to save her husband which cost her her life too.

 

[Flyinspanner]

It’s tragic, and a good reminder to all about the dangers of having your engine running in any enclosed space, be it your garage or going into, or out of any of these “tents”

 

[markjay]

It may be a first for a car 'cocoon', but sadly it is not uncommon for workers to rush to the aid of a colleague who collapsed seemingly inexplicably inside a pit or other confined space, only to be overcome by odourless and colourless fumes or toxic gas themselves.

 

[MissyD]

It may be a first for a car 'cocoon', but sadly it is not uncommon for workers to rush to the aid of a colleague who collapsed seemingly inexplicably inside a pit or other confined space, only to be overcome by odourless and colourless fumes or toxic gas themselves.

Absolutely that's true in a lot of situations when someone is in danger, its a natural reaction to try to save them without thinking of their own safety.

 

[rf065]

It's not really reported over here but in the US & Canada there seems to be a problem with stop/start cars being parked in garages attached to the owners houses.
Apparently owners have been parking inside the garage and walking away from the car without realising they haven't switched it off, they go upstairs to bed while the house is slowly filling up with carbon monoxide and never wake up again. Deadly Convenience: Keyless Cars and Their Carbon Monoxide Toll

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Surely any car with stop/start will have a catalytic converter and just be filling the house with carbon dioxide, which will not make you 'quietly' or peacefully lose consciousness?

 

[rf065]

Surely any car with stop/start will have a catalytic converter and just be filling the house with carbon dioxide, which will not make you 'quietly' or peacefully lose consciousness?

Catalytic convertors only work after the engine has reached a certain temperature, I assume a car idling in a garage will fall below that temp and the cat will not work?

 

[ToeKnee]

The stop/start on my insignia only works if the seat belt is done up and, if activated, the engine will restart if the belt is undone so it would be impossible to leave the car with the s/s activated and engine off. Aren't Mercedes the same?

 

[rf065]

The stop/start on my insignia only works if the seat belt is done up and, if activated, the engine will restart if the belt is undone so it would be impossible to leave the car with the s/s activated and engine off. Aren't Mercedes the same?

My Mercedes is the same but the report from the US states that Toyota & Lexus account for half of all deaths in these circumstances in the US, not sure if European models are different to the way US ones operate.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Surely any car with stop/start will have a catalytic converter and just be filling the house with carbon dioxide, which will not make you 'quietly' or peacefully lose consciousness?

Catalytic converters DONT leave exhaust gasses completely harmless, just better than they were.

Rf065 - the article relates to one death of an elderly man, and it points more toward ‘lack of training’ or maybe complacency (did they read the manual) or arrogance if someone driving over 50 years has thought he (or she) drives perfectly well and doesn’t need any extra training.
The article does go on to say they’ve found 28 other cases which may be similar, however in a country of 278million cars, it won’t be seen as a significant number to force any changes just yet.
They would have to prove that all of those people definitely would have shut down another car on that day. If they were all elderly, then it may be argued that they had some type of dementure which was a factor. (And with millions of $$ at stake the defence would be robust to say the least).

Fit carbon monoxide detectors around your homes. £10. Job done

 

[190]

It's not really reported over here but in the US & Canada there seems to be a problem with stop/start cars being parked in garages attached to the owners houses.
Apparently owners have been parking inside the garage and walking away from the car without realising they haven't switched it off, they go upstairs to bed while the house is slowly filling up with carbon monoxide and never wake up again. Deadly Convenience: Keyless Cars and Their Carbon Monoxide Toll

So not only do car manufacturers not care that their keyless go cars can be easily stolen, they also don't care that they kill people. All for a little convenience.