FOR many of us the car is not only a vehicle that we use to travel from Point A to Point B. Some of us take a short nap during a long drive inside the car itself. But do you know this can be fatal? Research has revealed sleeping in the car with the air conditioner “on” can be dangerous and even life-threatening due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odourless gas and hence you will not even realise you are breathing in poison. Another reason for fatalities occurring while someone is sleeping in a car is a malfunctioning air conditioner (AC). A weak AC will not be able to completely refresh the air inside the car and this will lead to increased carbon monoxide levels.
So how exactly does carbon monoxide kill you? It reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to your cells and cause cell death. Some might argue that keeping the windows open might prevent carbon monoxide accumulation. But this will help only partially. Researchers have advised drivers to avoid sleeping inside a car for long durations. Instead one can take a short break outside the car where the air is fresher.
Having a fully functional AC is vital to have a safe journey. Check if the car’s AC is working perfectly every six months. If your AC taking a long time to cool or is stopping occasionally, it means the AC needs a thorough check-up.
