How travelers can protect themselves from carbon monoxide as police investigate deadly gas in death of Brett Gardners son

Costa Rican police revealed that they now believe ex Yankee Brett Gardner’s son may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at the $1,300-per-night resort where the family was staying on vacation.The resort denies carbon monoxide was detected in Miller Gardner’s room, but admitted it was present in a machine room next door.Either way, his death is the latest overseas vacation tragedy where a carbon monoxide (CO) leak is being investigated.

In February, three Americans found dead at a Belize resort were confirmed to have succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.But, experts said there are steps that travelers can take to protect themselves while traveling — especially to resorts outside the US.Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it’s tasteless and odorless and it can suffocate victims before they know it’s too late.First, is to avoid staying near the hotel’s pool — where equipment is often a hotspot for CO leaks.Second, call ahead to make sure the resort has working CO detectors.

And finally, if all else fails — bring your own portable detector.Those are the tip from Charon McNabb, the president of the National Carbon Monoxide Association.Following the high profile cases, McNabb has issued a warning for Americans vacationing abroad this year, particularly when resorts may not make clear if they have carbon monoxide alarms in their rooms.“Some platforms like VRBO or AirBnB, they indicate whether or not a CO alarm is present in their listings, but it’s always better to pick up the phone and check with management,” she said.McNabb said that even if a resort has carbon monoxide detectors, that won’t matter if they aren’t tested regularly and replaced every few years.“They have a shelf life … somewhere between five and 10 years depending on the manufacturer, and they need to be tested every six months to make sure the batteries are still working,” she said.For that reason, travelers should always bring a CO alarm if they don’t get �...