The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

CO poisoning cases rising

Hospital authorities say they treated 21 people last year, the most on record.

Dr. Jaleh Eslami, M.D., Medical Director of Hyberbarics at Kettering Hospital talked about the increase of carbon monoxide poisonings in 2009. The hyberbaric chamber seen here is often used to treat victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

Ty Greenlees Dr. Jaleh Eslami, M.D., Medical Director of Hyberbarics at Kettering Hospital talked about the increase of carbon monoxide poisonings in 2009. The hyberbaric chamber seen here is often used to treat victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

ENLARGE PHOTO

Man, 68, drowns at Caesar Creek Lake
5/26/12
Water rescues prompt warning from health officials
5/25/12
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
5/25/12
Raleigh Trammell’s defense opens in felony trial
5/25/12
UD to move satellite campus to Dublin
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Nathan Waggenspack, Staff Writer 8:10 PM Sunday, January 16, 2011

DAYTON — An increase in severe carbon monoxide poisonings in 2010 and a cold winter have Kettering Medical Center bracing to deal with more in 2011.

The hospital treated 21 people for CO poisoning in hyperbaric oxygen chambers last year, according to numbers from KMC. That’s the highest year on record and a 50 percent increase from 15 in 2009. The previous high was 17 in 2006.

The hyperbaric chamber is the method for dealing with extreme cases of CO poisoning. According to spokesman Kevin Lavoie, KMC is the only area hospital to offer emergency hyperbaric treatment.

“I think what happened is with the economic downturn people were bringing in devices that are generally used outside for heating,” said Dr. Jaleh Eslami, medical director for hyperbaric medicine at KMC. “They were looking for a different way to heat their homes less expensively.”

Eslami added she thought it was a “good probability” that KMC will continue to see more cases this winter because of how cold it has been.

Carbon monoxide becomes a greater risk during the winter because of malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters and poorly ventilated fireplaces.

The gas, which is odorless and colorless, comes from combustion fumes from heating sources and can build up in enclosed spaces, poisoning people or animals.

On Tuesday, a 29-year-old Columbus woman was killed and three others hospitalized due to a malfunctioning furnace putting out high CO levels.

According to Dr. Salman Razi, attending physician for hyperbaric treament and critical care, accidental CO poisoning is something they see a bit of throughout the year, but more often in the winter. “It is (more common in winter), and that is due to people using space heaters and other warming appliances, that they wouldn’t be using at other times.”

The common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, fatigue and nausea. Razi said because the early symptoms are nonspecific the best way to really be safe from CO is to get a CO detector.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning, and more than 20,000 visit the emergency room.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-0603 or nwaggenspack@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to prevent carbon monoxide  poisoning from home appliances

Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters (catalytic) indoors. Although these heaters don’t have a flame, they burn gas and can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.

If you smell an odor from your gas refrigerator’s cooling unit have an expert service it. It also could be giving off CO.

When purchasing gas equipment, buy only equipment carrying the seal of a national testing agency, such as the American Gas Association or Underwriters’ Laboratories.

Install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Share this article