Gas Attacks (with poll added!) Forums

muncy

Looking in the back of various motohome magazines I see adverts for devices that detect gas - not propane/butane but sleeping gas. These adverts claim that gas attacks from intruders on the increase. Shocked

I also saw a letter in one of the magazines from someone saying they were nearly victims. Apparently, these intruders remove the seal from around the quarter light then let themselves into the van. They then spray the gas into the van to knock out the occupants whilst they, wearing gas masks, steal all the worldly goods. The editor of the magazine did say that he hadn't heard of these attacks happening to anyone and I wonder if it is just advertising hype. The detectors are about £130 which sounds a bit steep to me.

As newbies we probably won't go wild camping for a while yet but I was wondering what other peoples views are.

keng

Hi there muncy,

lots of 'stories' on the subject and I'm a natural cynic anyhow but I think you've hit the proverbial nail on the bonce when you question if a lot isn't down to clever marketing.

I'm a bit of a part time heavy trucker (in the truck sense, not me personally) and these stories started to appear in the trucking press also. I've spoken to dozens of guys on various ferries and I've yet to come across a victim of gas attacks (victims of dodgy P&O curries aplenty but that's a whole different gas attack Smile

.

There are lots of documented crimes against road users in general including thefts of vehicles/accessories/contents etc. and I (cynical self) cannot see the point of all that trouble (expensive narcotic gases, gas masks, risk of discovery) when the criminally motivated can simply pick out unoccupied vehicles for easier spoils.

As I said before, 'lots' on the subject including many posts on here. It's really down to the individual as to whether the perceived threat warrants a fancy gadget.

twodogs

hello
I have last week had a alarm fitted in my motorhome on advise from the company I had two gas alarms fitted one high in the motor and one low to detect different types of gas.
all this may be a urban myth like the head been banged on the roof of the car when your camping as a kid but I dont want to take the risk .
we have all had the storys has it happened to anyone on the forum ??
see you on the road
twodogs

androidGB

The best response I have seen to this subject was from a consultant anaesthetist with over 20 years of experience. He stated that even when administering gas through a mask it is very difficult to apply the precise amount to keep the patient unconscious without giving too much, and you have to accurately monitor oxygen levels at all

His opinion was to administer it directly into a motorhome to achieve the desired effect would require a huge amount of gas and would be impossible to do without frequent fatalities.

What is the sum total of fatalities recorded?

I rest my case

Anonymous

I wondered that last time you mentioned it Android. Also, with most people sleeping with roof vents open it would simply rise though if lighter than air or sink to the floor if heavier.

muncy

Thanks Guys

I wouldn't blame anyone for being cautious but the general opinion seems to confirm my opinion. thumbup

Anonymous

I have done some algebra and have calculated that this is the amount of gas that is required to send someone to sleep in an average C class motorhome. Obviously, there are some plus or minus intangibles - wind etc.

http://www.hms-juno.co.uk/shell.jpg

MandyandDave · Moderator

As you say Pusser, but some of the tangibles can not be accounted for[img:74ab03ba48]http://drflash.hu/images/fart.jpg[/img:74ab03ba48] well you did say wind! Rolling Eyes

Anonymous

I have seen before when people have said that it would be dificult to give people the right amount of gas, however from press reports I read the aim is to just get somebody in a bit deeper sleep than they already are, especially if youv'e had a good meal & alchol. Some report of using engine starting spray through the vans cab air vents. I would be interested to know how much gas could be sprayed into a van using this method & how effective it would be, not forgetting that they are not trying to put a fully concious person to sleep but just induce a deeper sleep than you are already in. It would also be logical to that these attacks would happen when you have been asleep a few hours.

Anonymous

Using Mandy and Daves theory, we would be asleep for a few weeks.