① Winter Camping Accidents
The best time for camping is winter, as the saying goes. Thanks to various heating devices, you can stay warm inside the tent and enjoy a fire outside.
However, caution is required on winter nights when the temperature drops below freezing. If the heating device fails to work, the thin tent can quickly turn into a freezer.
Therefore, the most critical thing during winter camping is to maintain warmth. Essential items for this include tarp fans, heaters, and kerosene heaters.
However, these heating devices can sometimes cause accidents. During the winter, accidents involving human casualties due to heating devices are often reported while camping.
On November 12, a man in his 60s, a woman in her 50s, and a 5-year-old child were found dead in a tent at a campsite in Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province.
The 119 paramedics responded to a report that “people had collapsed inside the tent as there was no news even after the check-out time had passed.”
Traces of charcoal burning were found inside the tent, and no suicide note was found. The police suspect that they died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The elderly couple had traveled from Seoul the day before to enjoy camping with their grandson. To withstand the winter cold, they fell asleep with charcoal burning inside the tent and were poisoned by carbon monoxide.
② Heating Devices and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The day before the accident at the Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province campsite, a similar accident occurred at a campsite in Yeonyang-dong, Yeoju City, Gyeonggi Province.
The paramedics who responded to a 119 report that “someone has collapsed in the next tent” found a couple in their 50s dead inside the tent. Charcoal was burning on a brazier inside the tent.
A similar incident occurred a month ago. A couple in their 60s was found dead in a tent near the Dae-ya Reservoir in Buk-gu, Gwangju.
The fire department responded to a report of a gas smell coming from the tent, but by the time they arrived, the couple had already died. They lost their lives due to carbon monoxide poisoning while using a heating device inside the tent.
All of these incidents are suspected of being caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is produced when charcoal or various fuels undergo incomplete combustion.
Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, nicknamed “silent killer.” The Korea Gas Safety Corporation demonstrated the dangers of carbon monoxide through an experiment. The experiment involved measuring changes in carbon monoxide concentration with a heating device turned on inside a three-person tent.
In the case of a gas heater, the concentration exceeded 2,000 ppm and shot up to 5,000 ppm in about an hour. For charcoal, it exceeded 2,000 ppm in just 2 minutes.
Exposure to 2,000 ppm of carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness within a couple of hours. In more severe cases of 5,000 ppm, it can lead to death within 30 minutes.
When exposed to carbon monoxide, vomiting is the first symptom. However, the problem is that vomiting can occur unconsciously, leading to death from carbon monoxide poisoning without even realizing it.
③ Warm and Safe Winter Camping
Burning coal or wood on a brazier can generate 2,000 ppm of carbon monoxide inside the tent in just 2 minutes. Therefore, these should never be used as heating devices inside the tent.
Other heating devices also use gas and oil. If not properly ventilated, they can lead to accidents due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Therefore, even if you use a heating device other than a brazier during winter camping, you must ensure proper ventilation. You should also install a carbon monoxide detector to prepare for emergencies.
If the heating is insufficient, you can use a hot water bottle. If you place the bottle between your thighs, the blood circulating throughout your body will stay warm, heating your entire body.
The most important thing is to dress appropriately for the cold weather. Not only should you layer your clothes, but you should also change out of any sweat-soaked clothing and wear a hat to prevent heat loss from the head. All of these can help maintain body temperature.
In addition to accidents caused by heating devices, camping fires also occur continuously. Therefore, you should use a dedicated brazier for bonfires and sprinkle water around it to prevent sparks from spreading.
Safety should be the top priority to enjoy the unique charm of winter camping fully. We hope for a safe and warm winter camping experience this winter.
By. Kim Min Jae
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