The temperature is plummeting in the upper midwest, and the number of carbon monoxide poisoning cases is skyrocketing. This time it was Libertyville, IL. One man dead. The culprit, a malfunctioning hot water boiler for a car wash, in an enclosed space. That is a lethal combinations: a stressed boiler, a small room. No carbon monoxide detector installed. For complete details see http://www.pioneerlocal.com/libertyville/news/764884,li-pjohnson-012908-s1.article
In theory, all fires (and a boiler, a furnace, a hot water heater, a fireplace, an engine are all fires) should occur in the open air where all fumes, including carbon monoxide will be dispersed below critical levels. Of course, the practicalities of civilized society is to bring the comforts of fire, indoors. Thus, comes the science and engineering of assuring complete combustion, which eliminates the risk of CO creation, and the science and engineering of complete ventilation of the exhaust of our controlled fires. But when science and engineering get translated into actual products and buildings, that must be designed, produced and maintained, there is always a risk of a break down, and the poison gas killing.
Engineers must always be on the watch for modifications of their designs and products, which could turn a well thought out design deadly. Maintenance people must always keep in mind the deadly nature of fire risk. Human occupants, must always remember to make sure their are carbon monoxide detectors to immediately warn of danger.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. SOMEONE WAS NEGLIGENT WHEN IT DID. Landlords, building owners must install carbon monoxide protectors to make sure that when all else fails, the potential victims of carbon monoxide, can get out in time.
Two More Dead
Two more days, two more dead, and one in critical condition: The bodies of two Chickasaw, Alabama residents were removed from a home after apparently being poisoned by carbon monoxide. Click here for the breaking news.
And Again – Hotel without Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It is three days since my last rant about hotels and carbon monoxide detectors, and once again 17 more people are hospitalized with dangerous carbon monoxide levels at a hotel. A hotel which is part of a national chain, a chain that does not require carbon monoxide detectors in each room. Comfort Suites. But this time it wasn’t comfort, it was nausea, headache and breathing problems that warned guests to call for help. Thank god they did. Click here for the excellent TV new story on this event in Jeffersontown, KY.
How can the hotel industry continue to ignore this risk? Do they breath a collective sigh of relief when no one, or as in the case of the Allentown, PA tragedy, only one person dies? CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS SHOULD BE MANDATORY IN ALL GUEST ROOMS. In Allentown, fire officials said a “tarp on the south side of the building likely forced the carbon monoxide from the hotel’s hot water heaters and recirculating the poisonous gas into the first-floor rooms and basement of the hotel.” See news story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22733907/
The hotel industry is a ripe place for CO poisoning, especially since when something goes wrong, so many are at risk. 17 people in Jeffersontown,KY, ten people in Allentown, PA, including one fatality. Click here for information on hotel exposures.
Even the hotel industries trade association acknowledges the risks, but nothing is done. The argument is that it would cost $100 million dollars to put detectors in each room in the United States. The lawsuits could add up to more, not to mention the cost in human lives. Click here for information on what states have regulations with respect to CO detectors in hotels.
Again, we remind everyone that a discharge with a clean bill of health does not guard against future problems, because of the delayed neurological symptoms that can occur. Click here for more information on DNS.
How can the hotel industry continue to ignore this risk? Do they breath a collective sigh of relief when no one, or as in the case of the Allentown, PA tragedy, only one person dies? CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS SHOULD BE MANDATORY IN ALL GUEST ROOMS. In Allentown, fire officials said a “tarp on the south side of the building likely forced the carbon monoxide from the hotel’s hot water heaters and recirculating the poisonous gas into the first-floor rooms and basement of the hotel.” See news story at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22733907/
The hotel industry is a ripe place for CO poisoning, especially since when something goes wrong, so many are at risk. 17 people in Jeffersontown,KY, ten people in Allentown, PA, including one fatality. Click here for information on hotel exposures.
Even the hotel industries trade association acknowledges the risks, but nothing is done. The argument is that it would cost $100 million dollars to put detectors in each room in the United States. The lawsuits could add up to more, not to mention the cost in human lives. Click here for information on what states have regulations with respect to CO detectors in hotels.
Again, we remind everyone that a discharge with a clean bill of health does not guard against future problems, because of the delayed neurological symptoms that can occur. Click here for more information on DNS.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Strikes Again
It has been a few days since our last blog and two more news stories have hit the national news about carbon monoxide poisoning. The first involved what seems to be good news, the second tragedy. Both may have far more tragic results than appears at present. The good news story involves a family of six in Anchorage, Alaska, who hit a snow bank when the driver succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. All lived. The tragic story involves a case of hotel negligence in Allentown, PA where one died and nine were sickened by carbon monoxide exposure.
While it doesn’t now appear to be what happened here, the Anchorage story highlights a serious risk this time of year: keeping a car running when it isn’t moving in hopes of staying warm. Any time car exhaust is not properly vented, there is some risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Of course, if you are sitting in a car in severe cold, the need may exist to keep the engine running to avoid freezing to death. But if something could obstruct the tailpipe, such as the snow, the moderate risk of danger and could become potentially catastrophic. Click here for the latest on the Anchorage story.
The Allentown, Pennsylvania story is all too familiar. A hotel does something stupid with the maintenance or design of their HVAC system, fumes go the wrong place, and a building full of people are at risk. In this case, workers doing construction on the outside of the hotel had erected a plastic tent-like canopy near the spot where the heaters were vented. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gH8Dl-4pgpAT5njFHZuEQVlCzLjwD8U8I1MO1
Making the hotel exposure cases even more outrageous, hotels refuse to put carbon monoxide protectors in each room. Only four states currently require carbon monoxide detectors in hotels, and none in each room. A recent study showed that only 11% of hotel chains that had had a carbon monoxide poisoning incident, had put in CO detectors, in each room, AFTER THE EXPOSURE. Such foolish risking of human lives must stop.
Perhaps even more troubling about these two incidents, is that the good fortune of the 15 survivors, may be an illusion. Carbon monoxide poisoning comes with it the risk of something called Delayed Neurological Sequelae, or DNS. Despite the apparent full recovery at the time of discharge from the hospital, the CO gases continue to attack the brain. Behavioral and neurologic deficits can arise or worsen two to 40 days after the exposure. Often times a patient is discharged from the hospital after initial evaluation, to have a severe relapse of symptoms, from this escalating pathology. The toxic effects of CO poisoning continue to attack the neurological system and particularly the brain, for many weeks after the initial exposure. This syndrome can materialize as almost any neurological or behavioral symptom, including memory loss, confusion, seizures, urinary incontinence, loss of bowel function, disorientation, hallucinations, psychosis and balance and dizziness. Click here for more information on DNS.
We don’t know what discharge warnings were given to these 15 individuals, but in our opinion, they should be required to follow up periodically with experts in CO exposure and have a repeat MRI done, at least once, to see if they have any signs of DNS. This is particularly true if the CO exposure caused a loss of consciousness, which it appeared to do in each case. As said in the Anchorage Daily New Story: “When officers arrived, the six occupants were either unconscious or unresponsive.” That is not the time to treat at the scene and send on their way. It is time to begin a careful monitoring to fully assess and possibly head off, the severe neurological attack that may lie in wait.
While it doesn’t now appear to be what happened here, the Anchorage story highlights a serious risk this time of year: keeping a car running when it isn’t moving in hopes of staying warm. Any time car exhaust is not properly vented, there is some risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Of course, if you are sitting in a car in severe cold, the need may exist to keep the engine running to avoid freezing to death. But if something could obstruct the tailpipe, such as the snow, the moderate risk of danger and could become potentially catastrophic. Click here for the latest on the Anchorage story.
The Allentown, Pennsylvania story is all too familiar. A hotel does something stupid with the maintenance or design of their HVAC system, fumes go the wrong place, and a building full of people are at risk. In this case, workers doing construction on the outside of the hotel had erected a plastic tent-like canopy near the spot where the heaters were vented. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gH8Dl-4pgpAT5njFHZuEQVlCzLjwD8U8I1MO1
Making the hotel exposure cases even more outrageous, hotels refuse to put carbon monoxide protectors in each room. Only four states currently require carbon monoxide detectors in hotels, and none in each room. A recent study showed that only 11% of hotel chains that had had a carbon monoxide poisoning incident, had put in CO detectors, in each room, AFTER THE EXPOSURE. Such foolish risking of human lives must stop.
Perhaps even more troubling about these two incidents, is that the good fortune of the 15 survivors, may be an illusion. Carbon monoxide poisoning comes with it the risk of something called Delayed Neurological Sequelae, or DNS. Despite the apparent full recovery at the time of discharge from the hospital, the CO gases continue to attack the brain. Behavioral and neurologic deficits can arise or worsen two to 40 days after the exposure. Often times a patient is discharged from the hospital after initial evaluation, to have a severe relapse of symptoms, from this escalating pathology. The toxic effects of CO poisoning continue to attack the neurological system and particularly the brain, for many weeks after the initial exposure. This syndrome can materialize as almost any neurological or behavioral symptom, including memory loss, confusion, seizures, urinary incontinence, loss of bowel function, disorientation, hallucinations, psychosis and balance and dizziness. Click here for more information on DNS.
We don’t know what discharge warnings were given to these 15 individuals, but in our opinion, they should be required to follow up periodically with experts in CO exposure and have a repeat MRI done, at least once, to see if they have any signs of DNS. This is particularly true if the CO exposure caused a loss of consciousness, which it appeared to do in each case. As said in the Anchorage Daily New Story: “When officers arrived, the six occupants were either unconscious or unresponsive.” That is not the time to treat at the scene and send on their way. It is time to begin a careful monitoring to fully assess and possibly head off, the severe neurological attack that may lie in wait.
January is the deadliest month for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
According to a new study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first month of the year is the worst for carbon monoxide poisoning. At least two people die each day from carbon-monoxide poisoning in January—three times the fatality rate recorded in August and July.
Fatalities were highest among men and senior citizens: Men because they are engaged in more high-risk behaviors such as working with fuel-burning tools or appliances and seniors because they are likely to mistake the symptoms of CO poisoning (headaches, charcoal-burning device inside the home, basement or garage or outside the home near a window.
Related reading:
Read Consumer Reports full report on CO and smoke detectors, including an interactive diagram of where to place them in your home. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/home-security/carbon-monoxide-alarms/co-alarms-905/overview/index.htm
Fatalities were highest among men and senior citizens: Men because they are engaged in more high-risk behaviors such as working with fuel-burning tools or appliances and seniors because they are likely to mistake the symptoms of CO poisoning (headaches, charcoal-burning device inside the home, basement or garage or outside the home near a window.
Related reading:
Read Consumer Reports full report on CO and smoke detectors, including an interactive diagram of where to place them in your home. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/home-security/carbon-monoxide-alarms/co-alarms-905/overview/index.htm
More Dead from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Three Dead in Providence, Rhode Island
It seems every day, there is another story of a someone dying of carbon monoxide poisoning. Today the blame was a faulty boiler in Providence, Rhode Island. As too often is the case, carbon monoxide poisoning wasn’t the first concern – foul play was.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/Death_Folo_01-09-08_458HQ0N_v27.287d59c.html
But improperly installing a boiler, as was the official explanation here, can have as bad of results as foul play. This is the time of year that you need to run your furnaces long and hard. Insist on proper safety checks and install a carbon monoxide detector, and make sure it is working properly.
Faulty boilers are one of the chief culprits in this deadly time of year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/01/carbonmono/?rsssource=1
It seems every day, there is another story of a someone dying of carbon monoxide poisoning. Today the blame was a faulty boiler in Providence, Rhode Island. As too often is the case, carbon monoxide poisoning wasn’t the first concern – foul play was.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/Death_Folo_01-09-08_458HQ0N_v27.287d59c.html
But improperly installing a boiler, as was the official explanation here, can have as bad of results as foul play. This is the time of year that you need to run your furnaces long and hard. Insist on proper safety checks and install a carbon monoxide detector, and make sure it is working properly.
Faulty boilers are one of the chief culprits in this deadly time of year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/01/01/carbonmono/?rsssource=1