What should be a glad time of year often isn’t for emergency personnel who find victims who have died while sleeping, fire and safety experts say.
Emergency responders are up against a killer that is particularly insidious and deadly; it is odorless, colorless, silent and, well, sneaky.
Each year, more than 500 Americans die from it - unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Approximately 15,000 are treated in hospital emergency departments nationwide.
In Oklahoma between 1994 and 2003, there were 291 unintentional CO-related deaths.
“What we see this time of year is an increase in CO calls,” said Battalion Chief for support services Brian E. Stanaland at the Oklahoma City Fire Department, 820 NW 5th .
“It’s paramount that you make sure your home is properly ventilated into the attic and out the roof.”
Also look for signs of leakage or seeping, he said.
“When there’s (an appliance or fireplace) flame burning in the house, make sure it is a nice blue color,” he added. “That’s an indication that it’s burning most inefficiently. Any other colors could mean CO escaping.”
Safety experts recommend placing several in-home CO monitors and checking their batteries yearly.
It is far too easy for CO over-exposure to quickly elevate to fatal levels, said officials with the injury prevention services division of the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Injury prevention specialists for Oklahoma State Health Department say sources inside homes are the leading cause of CO over-exposure. Second is vehicle exhaust, followed by accidents related to alcohol abuse. The common factor, however, is always an enclosed space allowing deadly fumes buildup.
Unintentional CO deaths are more likely to occur in winter, between midnight and 4 a.m., the health department said.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs by inhalation of a high concentration of the gas an enclosed or semi-enclosed space.
General symptoms for overexposure are headache, dizziness, weakness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Also look for mental confusion, sleepiness, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. Animals can die of overexposure as well.
Because it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-irritating gas, many people do not realize they have been exposed until it is too late.
Stanaland said that if CO poisoning occurs or is suspected, call the fire department or 911 and evacuate the location immediately. The fire department will immediately dispatch experts to the home to detect the CO levels in the home and assist any injured occupants.
