Winter has brought cold weather to many parts of the northern hemisphere of Earth. Along with the cold comes a danger as old as humanity’s knowledge of fire: death or injury by carbon monoxide poisoning. Today, we explore this ancient and ongoing threat.
Last month, a sixty-six-year-old man and his twenty-nine-year-old son died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The two men shared a home in the Queens district of New York City. Investigators who arrived at the apartment reported extremely high levels of the gas.
Two weeks earlier, carbon monoxide poisoning was blamed for the death of a 50-year-old woman in Hammond, Louisiana. Officials found petrol cans and a working electrical generator in her home. The house had no electricity.
These are just two of the many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning reported this winter.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide kills more than five hundred Americans every year. The CDC has found that the greatest number of carbon monoxide deaths in the United States occur in January. It also notes that carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in open spaces. However, the gas has also been linked to electrical generating equipment and engines on houseboats.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is responsible for protecting Americans from unreasonable risks of death or injury posed by thousands of products. Last month, the commission published a report on deaths linked to carbon monoxide poisoning. It estimated the number of deaths that could be attributed to products under its supervision. There were an estimated 189 such deaths in 2008 – the most recent year for which information is available. The report states that 49% of the deaths involved engine-driven tools. Heating systems were blamed for 37% of the deaths.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a global problem. It causes many deaths and injuries to people and animals worldwide. This gas has been a problem ever since people first started burning fuels to cook food or create heat. It is a particular problem in areas that experience cold weather.
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer because people are unaware that it is in the air. The gas is colourless. It has no taste. It has no smell. It does not cause burning eyes. It does not make people cough, either. However, it is extremely deadly. It robs the body of its ability to use oxygen.
Carbon monoxide decreases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to body tissues. It does this by bonding with the blood. Once this has happened, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen to the tissues that need it.
Large amounts of carbon monoxide can cause damage to the body very quickly. How quickly this happens depends on how long a person breathes in the gas and how much they breathe in. Another factor to consider is how much alcohol the person has consumed.
Carbon monoxide poisoning has warning signs. However, people have to be awake to recognise them. Small amounts of the gas will cause a headache. They may begin to feel tired. They may feel sick. The room may appear to be spinning. They may also have trouble thinking clearly.
As the amount of gas in their blood increases, people develop severe head pain. They will begin to feel extremely tired and sleepy. They may experience severe stomach pain.
Carbon monoxide is measured in parts per million in a normal atmosphere. Breathing in 200 parts per million of carbon monoxide will cause the first signs of poisoning. This will result in headaches, stomach problems and tiredness after two to three hours.
A concentration of eight hundred parts per million will cause a person to lose consciousness. They will not be aware of what is happening around them. This will happen within two hours of breathing in this amount of carbon monoxide. Twelve thousand parts per million of the gas can lead to death within one to three minutes.
Medical experts say that carbon monoxide affects different people in different ways. For example, a small child will experience health problems or die much more quickly than an adult. A person’s general health and age can also be important factors.
An older adult with health problems may suffer the effects of carbon monoxide more quickly than a younger person with no health problems. People with heart disease may experience chest pains. They may also experience breathing difficulties.
Carbon monoxide does not always cause death. However, it can cause many medical problems. Breathing in small amounts of the gas over a long period of time can lead to permanent damage to the heart, lungs or brain. Experts say that exposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide over a long period of time can greatly harm an unborn baby.
What causes carbon monoxide gas? Any device that burns fuels such as coal, gasoline, kerosene, oil or wood can produce it. Water heaters that burn natural gas produce carbon monoxide. So do fireplaces and stoves that burn wood. So do natural gas stoves, gas dryers and charcoal grills. So do automobiles.
Experts say that damaged or misused equipment that burns these fossil fuels is the leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. Many people die or are injured by the gas because they do not use these devices correctly. Any device used to heat a home should be inspected to ensure it is functioning correctly. Cooking equipment such as charcoal grills should never be used to heat enclosed spaces.
Fuel-burning devices can produce carbon monoxide because not all of the fuel is burned. Most home heating devices have a mechanism for expelling the gas from the home. For example, a fireplace has a chimney. Natural gas stoves and gas water heaters are usually connected to a system that safely expels the gas. Cars also have a system for releasing unburned fuel.
Anyone using a device that burns fossil fuel must carefully inspect the equipment to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide escaping. The companies that produce these devices usually provide instructions on how to use them correctly. These instructions should be read and understood before using any such equipment inside a home.
A small, portable electric generator can be dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that such devices can be fatal if not used correctly.
There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from the effects of carbon monoxide. Firstly, you should immediately leave the area if you recognise the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in yourself or others. After leaving the area where you suspect the gas might be, seek emergency medical services. The usual treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is to breathe in large amounts of oxygen. However, a doctor will know the best method to treat such poisoning.
Even after treatment has begun, carbon monoxide does not quickly leave the body. It can take several hours for the gas to disappear completely. If you suspect that there is a carbon monoxide problem in your home, call your local fire department. Many firefighters have the necessary equipment to detect the gas.
In many countries, it is possible to purchase and use a special device that warns when harmful levels of carbon monoxide are present. These devices can be connected to a home’s electrical system. Alternatively, they can be battery-powered. Experts recommend placing these devices near sleeping areas and testing them at least twice a year.
The most important way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to use heating materials safely in enclosed spaces. The safety instructions that come with heating equipment must be followed. Older equipment powered by fossil fuels should be inspected annually to ensure continued safety. Knowing about the dangers of carbon monoxide could be the most important thing you ever learn.
