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Outdoor Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips for National Picnic Month & National Grilling Month
- Charon McNabb
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
This Fourth of July, America celebrated a once-in-a-generation milestone: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From coast to coast, families marked our nation's Semiquincentennial with parades, fireworks, cookouts, and time together.
Most families remember the usual summer safety steps: keep food cold, drink water, use sunscreen, watch the grill, and take breaks from the heat. But one risk that's still easy to overlook outdoors is carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide, also known as CO, can become dangerous when grills, generators, camping stoves, boats, vehicles, or other fuel-burning equipment are used in or near enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. And when summer storms knock out power, that danger can quickly move indoors.
Over the Fourth of July weekend, multiple Michigan families experienced heartbreaking carbon monoxide tragedies connected to portable generators used during storm-related power outages.
At the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, we hear from families who never expected carbon monoxide to be part of an ordinary day. That's why we keep sharing these safety reminders. A few safety steps can make a big difference before your next cookout, camping trip, or day on the water.
Pay Attention to Outdoor CO Safety
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced whenever fuels such as gasoline, propane, charcoal, natural gas, or wood are burned.
Common outdoor sources of carbon monoxide include:
Charcoal grills
Propane grills and appliances
Portable camping stoves
Gas-powered generators
Fuel-burning lanterns and heaters
Cars, trucks, recreational vehicles, and boats
Fire pits and other wood-burning equipment
These items may be used outdoors, but they can still pose a serious CO hazard when placed too close to people, buildings, tents, campers, or other areas where fumes can collect.
Choose a Safe Grilling Location
Set up grills on a stable surface in an open area, away from:
Doors and windows
Tents and campers
Air vents and air-conditioning units
Siding, decks, and railings
Trees and dry vegetation
Areas where children or pets are playing
Keeping grills away from structures and gathering spaces helps reduce both fire hazards and the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.
Charcoal can also continue producing CO as it cools. Keep used grills outside until the coals are completely extinguished and cold. Never bring a recently used grill into a garage, shed, camper, or enclosed space.
Practice CO Safety While Camping
Portable stoves, lanterns, heaters, and generators can make camping more convenient, but they need to be used carefully.
Never use fuel-burning camping equipment inside a tent, vehicle, camper, or enclosed shelter unless it is specifically designed and approved for that use.
Generators should always be operated outdoors, far away from tents, homes, cabins, campers, doors, windows, and air intakes, with exhaust directed away from people and occupied spaces.
When staying in a camper, cabin, or vacation rental, bring a portable carbon monoxide alarm or monitor. If CO alarms are already installed, check that they are working and have not passed their recommended replacement date.
Stay CO-Aware on the Water
Boating can also create hidden CO risks, especially around engines, generators, swim platforms, and cabin spaces.
Boat engines and onboard generators release CO that can collect at the back of the boat. This can be especially dangerous when a boat is idling, moving slowly, or traveling through a no-wake zone, when exhaust can pool near the stern.
Keep these boating safety rules in mind:
Never allow swimming or “teak surfing” near the swim platform while the engine or generator is running.
Keep passengers away from the stern when the boat is idling or moving slowly.
Be aware that CO from a neighboring boat can drift onto yours at a dock or raft-up.
Install and maintain marine-rated CO alarms in cabin spaces.
Organizations like the Love Like Afton family foundation are helping raise awareness by placing carbon monoxide warning signs at boat launches and marinas to alert boaters to this invisible risk. You can sponsor a sign for a lake near you by visiting their Take Action page.
Summer Storms, Power Outages, and Generator Safety
When severe summer storms knock out power, portable generators often come out. That is when CO risk can rise quickly, especially if generators are used too close to a home or brought into an enclosed space.
A portable generator should never run inside a home, garage, basement, shed, carport, or any enclosed or partially enclosed space, not even with the door open. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Michigan offer generator safety guidance:
Place generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet away from your home.
Point the exhaust away from doors, windows, and air intake vents.
Opening windows or doors is not enough to prevent dangerous CO buildup.
Maintain your generator. A poorly maintained generator can produce even more carbon monoxide.
Install CO alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas. Ten-year sealed lithium battery models are recommended.
If your CO alarm sounds or anyone shows symptoms, get to fresh air immediately and call 911.
Michigan residents who need CO or smoke alarms can contact their local fire department. Many participate in MI Prevention, which provides free CO alarm installation in homes.
For more, visit the MDHHS carbon monoxide and generators page.
Watch for Generators at Fairs, Festivals, and Farmers Markets
Portable generators are common at summer fairs, festivals, food truck rallies, and farmers markets. Most are used safely, but placement matters.
Generators tucked behind booths, under canopies, or between closely packed trailers can allow exhaust to collect where people are standing, working, or eating.
If you are a vendor, place generators in open air, away from your booth, neighboring booths, and customer walkways. Make sure exhaust is directed away from people.
If you are a visitor and you smell exhaust or begin to feel a headache or dizziness near vendor equipment, move to fresh air and let event organizers know.
Traveling This Summer? Pack CO Protection
Hotels, motels, vacation rentals, cabins, and campers are not always equipped with working carbon monoxide alarms, and requirements vary widely from state to state.
A portable, travel-sized CO monitor can add an extra layer of awareness wherever your summer travels take you.
You can purchase one we recommend here: https://www.ncoaa.us/shop
Know the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO poisoning can be hard to recognize because the symptoms often look like something else.
Symptoms may include:
Headache
Dizziness
Weakness or fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Chest pain
Confusion
During outdoor activities, these symptoms may be mistaken for dehydration, heat exhaustion, seasickness, food poisoning, or a summer bug.
Two warning signs to watch for:
Several people develop similar symptoms at the same time.
Symptoms improve after moving away from a grill, generator, boat engine, vehicle, or other fuel-burning device.
If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, move everyone to fresh air immediately and call 911.
Outdoor Safety Checklist for Picnics and Cookouts
During National Picnic Month and National Grilling Month, remember to:
Never leave a lit grill unattended.
Keep children and pets away from grills and fire pits.
Inspect propane tanks, hoses, and connections before use.
Keep raw meat separate from prepared foods.
Refrigerate perishable foods promptly.
Drink water and take breaks from the heat.
Use sunscreen and seek shade.
Dispose of hot coals and ashes safely.
Avoid idling vehicles near tents or gathering areas.
Keep swimmers away from boat exhaust and swim platforms while engines run.
Run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from any occupied space, with exhaust pointed away.
Pack a portable CO monitor when traveling or camping.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Carbon Monoxide Safety
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning outside?
Yes. While CO disperses more easily outdoors, it can still reach dangerous levels near running grills, generators, boat engines, and vehicles, especially in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, near tent openings, inside garages even with doors open, around boat sterns, or in crowded vendor areas where exhaust collects.
How far away should a generator be from my house?
At least 20 feet, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows, and air intake vents. Never run a generator inside a home, garage, basement, shed, or carport, not even with the doors and windows open. Opening doors or windows is not enough to prevent deadly CO buildup.
Is it safe to use a charcoal grill in a garage if the door is open?
No. Charcoal and propane grills should only be used outdoors, well away from structures. An open garage door does not provide enough ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide from building up, and charcoal keeps producing CO even as it cools.
What are the first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and confusion. These symptoms are easily mistaken for heat exhaustion, dehydration, or food poisoning at summer gatherings. Suspect CO when several people feel sick at the same time, or when symptoms improve after moving to fresh air. If so, call 911.
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous on boats?
Boat engines and onboard generators release CO that can collect at the stern, around swim platforms, and in cabins, especially when idling or moving slowly through no-wake zones. Never let anyone swim near the swim platform or ride at the back of the boat while the engine or generator is running.
Make Outdoor CO Safety Part of Every Summer Gathering
Summer gatherings are made for creating good memories. Taking a few extra steps to prevent carbon monoxide exposure can help keep it that way.
Before the grill is lit, the boat leaves the dock, the generator is started, or the camping stove comes out, take a moment to think about where that equipment is being used and where the fumes could go.
That small pause can help keep you safe.
Happy National Picnic Month and National Grilling Month from all of us at the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association!
