RV FEATURE
Symptoms of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches , nausea , weakness , dizziness and confusion . As CO exposure increases , more serious symptoms develop , including a lack of coordination , chest pain , vomiting and loss of consciousness . If exposed to CO long enough , coma and death can occur .
This is why a CO detecter is on my list of indispensable items and should be on yours , too .
PURIFYING WATER
We should always ensure that our vans are stocked with plenty of drinking water . But a means to purify water so that it ’ s safe for drinking in the case of an emergency is essential . To some , this might mean a simple pot that can boil water ; for others , it might be a commercial inline water filter that sits between a pump and their water tank , or their water tank and their tap .
Filter cartridge , before and after .
Marty ' s filtration system hangs from two screws in the chassis rail once he is parked up .
However , boiling water has been used as a means to ‘ purify ’ water is an inexact process that may not always be sufficient . A rolling boil that lasts for only one minute , for example , may not kill all harmful bacteria , leaving behind some organisms such as giardia , cryptosporidium , and even some viruses . A much longer boil , however , stands a better chance of making it safe from bacteria .
Further , boiling water will not remove non-living contaminants , such as chemicals , herbicides , pesticides and even heavy metals .
So while boiling water of uncertain origin is certainly better than not boiling it at all , it is a better bet to use a dedicated filtration system . But do your research to ensure that the filter will suit your needs . There is also a range of portable filters that may suffice for our hypothetical ‘ emergency scenario ’ that are claimed to remove bacteria such as giardia , dysentery and e-coli , a range of viruses and chemicals , as well as silt , sediment and heavy metals .
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