If the statements below are true than why have so many people died while
using an unvented catalytic heater in a tent or vehicle?  I can't imagine
that the tent the 2 fellows died in was extremely airtight, nor was the
bus with its top popped at the bus show a few years back when the child
sleeping in the poptop woke up to dead parents downstairs.

The instructions that come with the heaters specifically say "do not use
while sleeping, use only with a window open while awake", by the way the
packaging of these products makes no mention of these specifics, on the
packaging they say "safe for indoor use", you've got to buy the product
and read the instructions to find out its not really safe for indoor use
unless a window is open and not safe to use while sleeping under any
circumstances.  I think the coleman,etc should be sued on that point.

There are safe and much warmer vented alternatives but they start at about
$400, not a bad deal in my opinion.

Search the archives for a 5 Apr, 2004, post titled:
"Carbon Monoxide Test Colman Cat heater", by Chris
Christensen <populuxe@QWICS.COM>

Chris works for a public utility/gas company,
specializes in natural gas systems, and has access to
professional-grade carbon monoxide measuring devices.
In p-mail correspondence with him, I was left with the
definite impression that when used with adequate
ventilation, the Coleman catalytic heaters are indeed
safe for prolonged use, and we have done so when
camping in our own Westy. We open the windows
according to the instructions and, just for backup,
sleep with a home-grade CO detector/alarm nearby.

Chris made NO safety guarantees to me, and I make none
to anyone else; each must determine one's own degree
of safety compromise when leaving the house each day.
Camp smart.

Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
http://www.vanthology.com/

_______________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today!
http://vote.yahoo.com