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In September 1994 professional tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis prepared for a nap at a friend's house in Long Island. He probably never dreamed he'd never wake up. While he slept, carbon monoxide from a swimming-pool heater seeped into his room through the air-conditioning system. An autopsy showed the gas had displaced 75% of the oxygen in his blood.
Gerulaitis' death was not unique. According to a website of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 100's of people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improperly used fuel burning devices. Even more are killed from the same gas by idling cars. About 5,000 people are treated for poisoning caused by the gas.
"You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill in minutes," according to the website. "Carbon monoxide is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned."
According to the EPA, if the devices are used properly there is no danger. Even though the gas is produced, the amount is not deadly. Unsafe appliances, however, can produce enough gas to kill a person in minutes. Infants, fetuses, the elderly and people with special conditions such as anemia, heart disease and respitory problems are especially susceptible.
Symptoms caused by moderate amounts of the gas can include severe headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, nasuea and a faint feeling. At even low levels carbon monoxide can produce shortness of breath, mild nausea, mild headaches and long term effects. The problem with the symptoms from low amounts is that they may be mistaken for the flu.
According to the website, someone with the symptoms should get fresh air immediately and go to the emergency room. A doctor may ask questions that may be designed to discover if a condition is caused by carbon monoxide poisoning: Does everyone in a house have the same symptoms? Did the symptoms for everyone begin at the same time? Has anyone inspected all the appliances in a home to determine if they are working properly?
There are many things a person can do to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. All fuel burning appliances should be inspected by an expert before the start of each winter, for example: oil and gas furnaces; gas water heaters; gas ranges and ovens; gas dryers and kerosene heaters.
If possible, only appliances that vent fumes outside should be purchased. All safety instructions that come with an appliance should be followed. A car should never be idled in a garage, even if the door is opened.
There are other precautions suggested by the website. A gas oven should never be used to heat a house, even briefly. A charcoal grill should never be used inside, even in a fireplace. Gas powered engines, such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers and chain saws should never be used in an enclosed space.
A person with symptoms of poisoning should never ignore the symptoms.
According to the website the purchase of a carbon monoxide detector may also be useful. A detector, however, should never lull a person into being careless with fuel burning devices or ignoring symptoms of poisoning.
A device may cost $30-$70. It should meet the Underwriters Labratories (UL) standard 2034, which requires the devices detect dangerous amounts of the gas but ignore inconsequential amounts.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill whole families at one time. According to an article in the September/October 1998 Saturday Evening Post, in July of the same year eight people, including four children, were killed. Jose Maqueda and Ipolito Barrera were listening to a radio in Maqueda's garage when carbon monoxide from the engine killed them.
The air-conditioning unit spread gas from the garage throughout the house. Maqueda's wife, son, daughter, nephews and another relative were all killed.
Carbon monoxide can also cause seizueres, unconsciousness and coma. A person who has symptoms may get better when out of an affected house after two to four hours. When the person goes back he again becomes worse.
Many people are needlessly killed from carbon monoxide poisoning. Simple precautions, however, would prevent the needless deaths.
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