Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
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Settlement Reached in Suit Stemming From Man Dying Of Carbon Monoxide at Best Western Hotel
Best Western has settled a federal lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in one of the chain’s hotels in Upper Macungie Township, Pa.
http://www.newyorkinjurynews.com/2010/03/29/pa-hotel-reaches-settlement-over-carbon-monoxide-death_201003292981.html
The terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed.
Philip Prechtel, a 63-year-old South Carolina man, died during his January 2008 visit to the Best Western. His family filed suit against Best Western and two contractors that July.
A makeshift canopy had been set up on the side of the Best Western Allentown Inn and Suits during a renovation, and that tent-like structure captured carbon monoxide gas that seeped into several hotel rooms.
The gases had been released by three 80-gallon, bas-powered water heaters.
The family had sought a minimum of $350,000 in damages for wrongful death and negligence against the defendants, which included KMD Hospitality Corp. of Allentown, Pa., which owns the Best Western; Martin Plastering Contractors of Terre Hill and Advanced Building Systems of Reading.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in March 2008 fined Martin Plastering $2,300 for failing to teach its employees about identifying carbon monoxide hazards and failing to detect the carbon monoxide hazard that killed Prechtel and sent several others to the hospital.
Survivors of Man Who Suffered Fatal Heart Attack After Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on Lake Powell Files Suit
Relatives of an Arizona man who died of a heart attack after breathing in dangerous levels of carbon monoxide on a rented houseboat are suing over the tragedy. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700019231/Lawsuit-says-carbon-monoxide-caused-mans-death-at-Lake-Powell.html
The wrongful-death lawsuit alleges that 62-year-old Glen Howeth of Winslow, Ariz., died in June 2008 due to the negligence of several companies, including the one that rented his family a boat at Lake Powell.
The suit charges that a generator on the boat gave off the noxious fumes, and the carbon monoxide alarms that were on the houseboat didn’t go off and warn anyone of the danger.
Howeth sleeping in a bedroom with his grandson, and woke up when he heard the boy throwing up. Howeth tried to waken the the rest of his family and called for help.
His relatives had symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, nausea, passing out and headaches, all the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, the suit alleges. They were transported to a hospital by helicopter.
When Howeth was trying to summon help for his family, he “suffered a fatal heart attack induced by carbon monoxide poisoning,” the suit charges.
The defendants in the case, who deny any wrongdoing, are: Aramark Corp., which rented the houseboat; Twin Anchors Marine, the boat’s manufacturer; Centek Industries, which made part of the generator; Marine Technologies, the manufacturer of the carbon monoxide detectors; and Westerbeke Corp., which made the generator.
We have long pointed out that the heart is actually more vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning than even the brain, because it requires oxygen even more urgently than the brain does. This story combines two of our most consistent themes: watch out for portable generators and what I have called “winter heart attack” because it might be the culprit behind many heart attacks during heating season. Today, I realize that maybe I should also coin the term “generator heart attack.” See http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com/carbon_monoxide_poisoning/carbon_monoxide_unexplained_heart_attacks.html
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
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Three Dead In Long Island From Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning On Houseboat
It is another generator run indoors case.
Three people died of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning after being found unconscious on a houseboat in Huntington Harbor, Long Island, N.Y.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20100324/NEWS05/3240358/-1/newsfront/Carbon-monoxide-suspected-in-3-deaths-on-Long-Island-houseboat
The three unidentified victims – two men and a woman — were found on the houseboat at 9 pm. Tuesday, according to Suffolk County police. They had gotten a 911 call to come to the houseboat.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/24/2010-03-24_3_found_dead_on_houseboat.html
They were transported to Huntington Hospital, and were pronounced dead there.
Autopsies will be done to confirm the cause of death. There were no signs of foul play, according to police. A police detective told the newspaper Newsday that the three people were believed to have been overcome by fatal carbon monoxide fumes. There was a gasoline-powered generator on the boat.
Two police officer who had responded to the scene had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Over and over we say it here, but sadly it doesn’t get heard elsewhere: engines cannot be run indoors, even if the power is out. For more on the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning go to http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Four in Nebraska Almost Killed As Car Is Left Running in Garage
Four people nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday in Nebraska after a car was left running in a home’s attached garage. http://www.omaha.com/article/20100316/NEWS01/100319699
Authorities were investigating the near-fatal incident that took place on Mulberry Court in La Vista, Neb. Police called to the scene found Terah Yager, 31, who was barely conscious and then actually collapsed.
Police rescued Yager, 27-year-old Nicole Meyer and two girls, both 12, from the home. In the house police encountered the overpowering smell of natural or petroleum-based gas, as well as smoke.
Meyer had left a car running in the garage on Saturday at 11 p.m., according to police. She and the girls were treated and released from Nebraska Medical Center, while Yager received treatment at the house.
Sunday morning the carbon monoxide level in the house was more than 500,000 parts per million, and constant exposure to Co levels above 150 to 200 parts per million can be deadly. Don’t run engines indoors. Any time someone is found unconscious with carbon monoxide poisoning, it is important that they continue to follow with a doctor in the days after the exposure, even if they have been discharged from the hospital. Carbon monoxide poisoning can get worse in the period of 2 to 40 days after the exposure. This is called delayed neurological sequalae or DNS. See http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com/carbon_monoxide_poisoning/carbon_monoxide_delayed_onset.html For more on carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention, go to http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Pennyslvania Food Store Evacuated As A Half Dozen Fall Ill To Carbon Monoxide
A Giants Food Store in Forks Township, Pa., had to be evacuated Monday as at least a half dozen people got sick from carbon monoxide poisoning. http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2010/03/carbon_monoxide_poisoning_sick.html
The store was cleared at 9:30 p.m. when six to eight people in an area that was undergoing a renovation began feeling nauseous and getting headaches. One of those people collapsed.
Authorities blamed a propane tile cutter, which was in the construction area, with releasing the potentially fatal gas. The part of the store that was being renovated had been separated from the rest of the building with plastic tarp, and that was the area that had dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, authorities said.
Officials compared running a tile cutter inside like that as akin to leaving a car running in a garage.
In total 35 people were evacuated from the store, which is on Town Center Boulevard. They were all tested for carbon monoxide poisoning as a precaution.
As we keep saying, over and over, internal combustion engines cannot be run indoors. For more on carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention, go to http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
New Jersey Man Dies of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Using Generator When Storm Knocked Out Power
Sometimes, I just wished more people could read our warnings about the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. What I have come to learn about carbon monoxide and the news, if there is a big storm that knocks out power, someone will die because of the way they compensate for the absence of electricity.
After torrential rain and winds knocked out electricity in many parts of New Jersey this weekend, a Carteret, N.J. man was killed by carbon monoxide fumes from a generator he was using because he was without power. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/carteret_man_is_found_dead_in.html
The 49-year-old man, whose name wasn’t released, was discovered dead Saturday sitting on a couch in the basement of a Pine Street home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Residents at that address had been using a portable generator because they had lost power due to the Northeaster storm. But one of the residents called police shortly after noon Saturday to report that some of his family members were sick and that a family friend was unconscious in the basement.
When firefighters and police arrived at the home, a married couple with two children were outside the home. They were taken to Raritan Bay Medical Center for treatment.
In the basement, the responders smelled the odor of gasoline and found the generator. It had been turned off. All the windows in the basement were closed.
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Carbon Monoxide Forces Evacuation of 35 From Eight Manhattan Buildings
It’s not terribly often that one reads about building evacuations in Manhattan due to high levels of carbon monoxide, but that’s what happened this past Sunday.
Thirty five people were forced out of eight Upper West Side buildings after firefighters were called to West 76th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park, which is a lovely area with trees, brownstones and townhouses, the New York Post reported Monday. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/flee_gas_on_side_nXQgQ2esxeRVWWa9iwi8dL
The fire department arrived at the scene at 3:30 p.m., and residents were allowed to return to their homes at 8 p.m.
Authorities were still trying to pinpoint the source of the dangerous carbon monoxide.
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Wisconsin Gov. Signs Law Requiring C.O. Detectors
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle Wednesday signed a bill that mandates that state residents put carbon monoxide detectors in their residences. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/87282252.html
Under the new law, carbon monoxide detectors will have to be installed on all floors of single-family homes and two-unit residences. These detectors are already required in other kinds of housing.
New homes will also have to have carbon monoxide detectors.
However, the law doesn’t have any teeth to it. There is no fine for those who don’t comply with the law. Officials said that the legislation is mean to educate and encourage compliance.
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Minnesota Weighs Bill That Requires Carbon Monoxide Alarms At Ice Rinks
Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike at some pretty surprising places, and Minnesota aims to do something about that. The state has introduced a bill that mandates that ice rinks install gear to check levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, hazardous gases that Zambonis emit. http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_14643858?nclick_check=1
The deadly gases sometimes build up to unsafe levels in ice arenas when ice resurfacers, such as Zambonis, have a fuel-burning engine that’s not maintained correctly. That’s an especially dangerous condition at ice rinks, because skaters are often breathing deeply, therefore taking in a large quantities of whatever fumes are around them.
Under the proposed bill, rinks would have to install electronic air-monitoring equipment. Those devices would have to sound an alarm when the concentration of carbon monoxide was at 12.5 million parts per million or more, and when nitrogen oxide hit 0.3 parts per million. Then those devices would trigger exhaust fans.
Right now under Minnesota law ice arena officials must tell the state when carbon monoxide is more than 30 parts per million or nitrogen oxide exceeds 0.5 parts per million.
The proposed legislation was written by Rep. Rick Hansen, who cited an incident where a hockey team from Morris, Minn., got ill from carbon monoxide exposure. One of his constituents, a figure skating instructor, also suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Only three states – Minnesota, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – have laws mandating that ice rinks monitor their air quality.
Internal combustion engines and the great indoors don’t mix. It is good to see that the recognition of that is increasing.
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
Indianapolis Man Found Dead Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
An Indianapolis man was found dead inside a house Sunday, an apparent victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. http://www.fox59.com/news/sns-ap-in–carbonmonoxidedeath,0,7928982.story
Brian Beckley, 45, was using a portable generator to run the appliances inside the home, where his electricity had been shut off. He and his landlord had been in a dispute over his electric bill, according to neighbors.
While the reason for the use of the generator was one we haven’t connected with CO poisoning before, portable generators are one of the most common causes of the carbon monoxide poisoning.
Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.
http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://carbonmonoxide-poisoning.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney