Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

It sounded like a great way to banish the winter blues: a Hawaiian theme party complete with tacky shirts, pineapple skewers and pork chops on the grill. But it's the dead of winter and you can't very well stand outside in shorts and a T-shirt so you've set up the gas barbecue in your garage or gasp-your kitchen. Chances are that the party won't last long.

Or maybe you forgot to open the garage door before you got in your car to warm up the engine…

In only a few minutes enough carbon monoxide (CO) can be produced to cause unconsciousness, coma, blindness, or heart failure. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless, silent killer. When the gas is inhaled, it enters the bloodstream and takes the place of life-sustaining oxygen. It has a structure similar to oxygen so it can fool the body into allowing it to bind to haemoglobin in our blood. In fact, carbon monoxide forms a bond with our haemoglobin that is 210 times stronger than oxygen thus making it a powerful poison.

This killer might mimic oxygen but it provides none of the sustenance. The brain and heart soon react to a lack of oxygen with an increase in the victim's heart rate. As more air is brought into the lungs and bloodstream by rapid breathing, the poisoning progresses even faster. It is a Catch-22 for a victim who has fallen unconscious and cannot get out into fresh air.

Symptoms
The first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are typically nausea, headache or light-headedness, problems with co-ordination, and lethargy. Initially, low levels of this gas may fool the victim into thinking they merely have a flu. This can result in tragedy if the poisoning goes unnoticed.

As the poisoning progresses more severe symptoms will manifest such as rapid breathing and pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness, coma, convulsions, and respiratory failure. A simple indication and one which is easily observed, is a slightly blue tinge to the skin. This is a sign that the blood is carrying dangerously low levels of oxygen.

Treatment
The first step is to get fresh air or to move the victim to fresh air. Second, turn off the stove, barbecue, vehicle or other device which is creating the CO. After leaving the contaminated area, call for emergency assistance. Tell the operator that you believe you have been poisoned. In the event you are unconscious when the ambulance arrives they will know the cause and be able to treat you promptly. It is better to error on the side of caution and have the ambulance attendants arrive to find you sitting on the lawn catching your breath rather than risking your life.

In severe cases, victims must be treated by being submerged in a hyperbolic chamber. There they are exposed to oxygen and high pressure which break down the concentration of the poisonous gas in the bloodstream.

If left untreated, long-term low level carbon monoxide exposure can cause symptoms, which can be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue, flu, or frequent headaches. Unfortunately, it is usually after several days or even weeks of continued illness that the victim will go to their doctor. By that time it may already be too late to reverse the affects of long-term oxygen deprivation: brain damage, partial or complete blindness.

Protecting your family
Burning any fuel will produce carbon monoxide. This includes fuels such as gasoline, wood, kerosene, charcoal, and propane. Problems arise when the car, grill, stove or other device is not burning the fuel efficiently or the device is operating in a confined space. Fumes must be properly ventilated to the outdoors. Ensure that there are no leaks in ventilation pipes from gas stoves. Also invest in a visit from a chimney sweep to ensure that your fireplace is efficiently diverting smoke skywards rather than into your living room. There are a number of other harmful chemicals and gases in wood smoke so it is essential to maintain your fireplace in top form. It may also be time to turn that old wood stove you inherited from your grandparents into a decorative furnishing!

Maintenance of all your non-electric machines and appliances is the first step in protecting your family from this lethal killer. If you notice an unaccountable increase in your gas bill you may have an appliance which is not functioning properly. The second step is to ensure proper ventilation which can involve repairing any cracks or leaks in ventilation pipes, using a clean fireplace and never warming up your car with the garage door shut. You should also consider purchasing a carbon monoxide detector for your home. You'll sleep better knowing that everyone will wake up healthy!

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