Often, several members of the same family or those in a building will be carbon monoxide victims. This winter in Utah County, several members of the same family died from carbon monoxide's effects. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless and insidious gas that kills hundreds of people each year.
Signs and symptoms
Usually, low-level exposure to CO is described as "flu-type." Victims frequently complain of tiredness, headache, visual disturbances and runny nose. A one-month study of patients reporting to a hospital emergency room with "flu-like" symptoms revealed that almost a quarter of them had a CO level greater than 10 percent (a diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning is generally confirmed by a CO level greater than 10 percent).
Children are thought to be more susceptible to CO poisoning than adults. High-risk groups include infants, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic obstructive lung disease.
Causes
Frequently, CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of wood or hydrocarbon products. It will be produced as a byproduct of the burning of almost anything. Many CO victims are stricken by gases that are insufficiently vented by heating equipment or furnaces. Incidents occur each year in homes with fireplaces or wood-burning stoves/heaters.
Other incidences have been reported in apartments where gas stoves are being used for heat. In at least one case, CO poisoning was caused by the use of a charcoal grill within an apartment's bathtub. More than 50 percent of all CO incidents occur within homes. Twenty percent of all incidents occur in businesses of various types.
First aid
One of the most important considerations in the treatment of CO is the immediate recognition of the problem. Once suspected, the following action can be taken by rescuers:
1. Move the victim to fresh air.
2. Activate the emergency medical service (EMS), if victim are experiencing symptoms.
3. Check for respiratory problems.
4. Ventilate the affected area.
Prevention
Many lives could be saved and much disability prevented if people could learn to recognize and prevent the dangers of CO poisoning. Preventive efforts such as checking fireplace flues, chimneys and vents could help to alleviate the hazard. The use of good common sense in not using open flames, ovens and other appliances not intended for heating could reduce the number of carbon monoxide incidents. It is also recommended that homeowners have their complete heating systems checked before every heating season.
By understanding more about CO, we can be better prepared to treat the effects of this toxic product. In this way, the number of people who die from carbon monoxide can be reduced.