In a poignant move to prevent tragic losses, the Safer Tourism Foundation supports a new campaign against carbon monoxide poisoning during travel. This campaign, marking a year since the unfortunate demise of Hudson Foley in Ecuador, is driven by his mother and involves multiple partners.
- Cath Foley, Hudson’s mother, leads the initiative alongside organisations like Policy Connect and the Latin American Travel Association.
- The campaign, ‘Pack Safe Appeal’, urges travellers worldwide to carry portable CO alarms for safety.
- The initiative also advocates for accommodation and travel providers to include CO alarms in their essential safety measures.
- Safer Tourism Foundation, aiming to raise awareness, calls for government involvement in promoting CO safety during travel.
In a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by tourists, the Safer Tourism Foundation is rallying behind the newly launched campaign, ‘Pack Safe Appeal: Hudson’s Campaign for Carbon Monoxide Travel Safety’. This initiative aims to address the ever-present risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, sparked by the tragic death of Hudson Foley in a homestay in Quito, Ecuador, one year prior. Led by Cathy Foley, Hudson’s mother, in partnership with the Safer Tourism Foundation, the campaign is compelling travellers to prioritise their safety by carrying portable carbon monoxide alarms.
The campaign is not only targeting individual travellers. It ambitiously calls on travel accommodation providers to integrate comprehensive safety measures, which include the provision of CO alarms and ensuring rigorous gas safety checks at their premises. Travel providers are further urged to incorporate these alarms into their standard travel kits and to inform and brief their customers on the potential dangers of carbon monoxide exposure during travel.
A critical aspect of the initiative is the involvement of government and regulatory bodies in emphasising carbon monoxide safety within travel advisories. The campaign calls for these entities to embed CO-related safety information within government-issued travel guidance, thereby reinforcing the message across all layers of travel safety protocols.
The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) has expressed its unequivocal support for this campaign, recognising the urgent need to enhance safety standards across Latin America where Hudson’s incident occurred. This collaboration is part of a broader Safety Scheme seeking to elevate safety standards for travellers in the region. Danny Callaghan, chief executive of LATA, highlights the importance of this initiative, urging travellers to make carbon monoxide alarms a travel necessity no matter their destination.
Beyond broadening awareness, the campaign aims to drive actionable change by involving companies like SafeLincs Ltd., which is offering discounts on CO alarms to bolster adoption among travellers. Notably, the campaign has gained traction within influential circles, with Chelsea Football Club committing to highlight the initiative at a forthcoming home match, thus honouring Hudson Foley, a devout supporter. Katherine Atkinson of the Safer Tourism Foundation reiterates the significance of these initiatives, acknowledging the preventable nature of deaths caused by carbon monoxide and the vital role of awareness and proactive safety measures.
The collaborative efforts underline the vital importance of adopting carbon monoxide safety measures during travel to prevent avoidable tragedies.
