Why Sleeping In A Car With The Air Con Running Could Kill You
This is for those who enjoy sneaking a nap in the car during lunch time.
By May Vin Ang — 18 Sep 2020, 06:21 PM
It's a guilty pleasure, but sleeping in the car is kind of nice
With the air conditioning on and some soft music playing, the car always feels like the perfect environment to catch a bit of shut-eye.
However, people have died from falling asleep in their cars
It has been reported that a group of friends passed away while on vacation after they decided to take a break at a petrol station and sleep in their car.
So, we have to break it to you: If you enjoy sneaking a nap in your car with the engine running during lunch time, you ought to kick the habit.
1. How exactly do people die when they fall asleep in their cars?
The primary cause of death of people falling asleep in cars is carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas released when burning fuels, such as coal, wood, charcoal, natural gas, and fuel oil.
This gas usually dissipates quickly in open air but is harmful to human health when it accumulates in enclosed areas, such as when a parked car is left running with all its windows closed.
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer because not only can we not see or smell it, we also breathe it in normally with no irritation to our nose and throats.
The gas kills when a large amount of it binds to our red blood cells and displaces oxygen. This eventually suffocates our body from an adequate oxygen supply.
2. If it can't be seen or smelled, how do I know that I'm suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning?
According to the Ministry of Health, signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Coma
The longer a person inhales the gas, the worse the symptoms will be.
Furthermore, losing consciousness can happen within two hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air.
In a person who is awake, they may realise these symptoms and take action.
The dangerous part about sleeping in the car is that a person may die in their sleep due to carbon monoxide poisoning without ever experiencing symptoms.
3. So, why don't we die if we sit in an idle car with the air conditioning on in a traffic jam?
It is possible. However, again, carbon monoxide will take time to build up inside the passenger cabin to affect our systems and getting stuck in a traffic jam still involves a moving car, albeit once every few minutes.
Sitting in a standstill will still expose you to high levels of carbon monoxide though, so try to avoid the situation entirely with more susceptible groups of people in the car, such as:
- Elderly
- Children
- People with breathing and heart problems
- People with anaemia
- People susceptible to seizures
4. How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning then?
Because you can't see or smell carbon monoxide, the best way to avoid accidental poisoning is to prevent exposure in the first place.
To protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning, you should:
- Regularly check and inspect your car exhaust system. Leaks in the exhaust system can allow carbon monoxide to enter your vehicle.
- Always fix your car, even after a minor accident. Any damage or holes in your vehicle may allow more fumes to enter the passenger compartments.
- Never leave your engine running in an enclosed area. Even if the windows are down or the garage door is open, carbon monoxide can reach dangerous levels in the vehicle.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector in your car as a safety precaution. Since we are limited by our senses, the only way to be totally safe is to install a detector.
Lastly, of course, don't sleep in the car with the engine running.
