(HNMO) – An unfortunate incident that happened today (June 2) in An Lao district (Hai Phong), when 6 people showed signs of asphyxiation in a car, of which 3 died, once again sounded the alarm about improper sleeping habits in cars.
For any car user, taking a nap in the car is not strange, but it is important to know important notes to avoid this habit that can lead to life-threatening consequences.
Is it safe to sleep in a car?
Basically, sleeping in a car is safe. The original car design is not completely airtight, allowing oxygen to freely circulate through the cabin, allowing the occupants to breathe easily even with all the doors closed. According to a study by the US National Center for Bioinformatics, the air in the car will be "refreshed" every 1-3 hours, even when the engine is off and the windows are completely closed. The documents indicate that there must be at least 8-9 people in a 5-7-seat car to start the oxygen shortage.
Avoid the "invisible killer"
However, lack of oxygen is not a risk when sleeping in a closed car, but the CO (carbon monoxide) in the exhaust is the real killer, causing many unfortunate deaths. No matter what type of car you have, the risk of CO poisoning is always present, especially when you sleep in your car.
The scary thing is, CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, so people do not realize they have inhaled this toxic gas until it is too late. When the amount of CO in the blood exceeds a safe level, the person who breathes this gas may experience dizziness or temporary shortness of breath. Once infected at high levels, death is hard to avoid.
Should turn off the air conditioner when sleeping
Turning off the air conditioner in the car while sleeping will help avoid the risk of exhaust gas leaking from the exhaust pipe. This happens quite often on older vehicles. If the temperature difference is too big outside and inside the car, you can open the windows to create a balance before thinking about starting the engine and turning on the air conditioner. With electric vehicles, turning on the air conditioner is quite safe due to the design of using only electricity, but care should be taken to avoid draining the battery, making the car unable to move afterwards.
Avoid doing wrong soundproofing and noise protection for the car
Nowadays, it is not uncommon for car owners to spray undercarriage or make soundproofing and noiseproofing for "pet drivers", but few people know how to do it properly. In fact, there are many openings and openings in the car to drain water, but most of these details will be filled if the technician glues / sprays soundproofing and anti-noise layers without professional knowledge.
Avoid sleeping in a car parked in a closed room
One thing that few people notice is that although cars are not airtight, garages in households are often quite tight, and there is no escape route for exhaust gases if the user starts the engine while sleeping in the car. When exhaust gas fills the room, it will flow back into the cockpit, high risk of causing unfortunate consequences. Therefore, make sure the parking space is well ventilated before falling asleep.
Pay attention to your sleeping position
Most cars now allow the seat to be adjusted into positions suitable for sleep, avoiding unintended injuries that may occur. For example, on some Honda models with Magic Seat, the car's seats can even open up to form a perfect bed. Refer to the owner's manual that came with the vehicle for the most appropriate setup.
Notify others about your sleeping in the car
Having someone know you're sleeping in your car reduces the risk significantly. They can check your status from time to time, and troubleshoot problems if they arise. In addition, you should also consider setting a timer before falling asleep in your "pet car".
