It's Carbon Monoxide Season!

[x635 4,066]

With the predicted cold weather coming our way, it's the begining of Carbon Monoxide season. The following entries from the LA City FD Blog give some good insight into the silent killer:

Family of Four Avoids Disaster in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

On Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 3:05 AM, 1 Company of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Patrick Butler responded to a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at 12255 W. Burbank Bl. in South Van Nuys.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a family of four, the father and infant outside and the mother and daughter inside the apartment, complaining of nausea, dizziness and drowsiness. The father stated that he had lit the heater for the first time this year and went to bed for the night.

At approximately 3 AM, the father woke up and immediately recognized that something was wrong. The father, having difficulty staying awake himself, dialed 911 and began opening the windows to ventilate the apartment and attempted, but was unable, to wake the other family members. The father, though significantly impaired himself, was able to remove the infant from the apartment and make his way to the courtyard below.

Even though the father was unable to physically remove the mother and daughter from the apartment, his actions allowed the others inside the apartment to begin breathing fresh air and their conditions improved. The family, a 37 year-old male, 36 year-old female, 11 year-old female, and a 1 year-old female were assessed by paramedics at the scene and were found to be awake and their conditions improving.

All patients were transported to Providence St. Joseph Hospital in serious but stable condition. The Gas Company will be evaluating the scene to determine the source of the Carbon Monoxide exposure.

Submitted by Ron Myers, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

Firefighters Expose an Invisible Killer

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims nearly 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

The Los Angeles Fire Department joins the United States Fire Administration and the National Association of Home Builders in reminding you of the danger of carbon monoxide fumes.

Understanding the Risk

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you know it's in your home.

At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

Where does carbon monoxide come from?

CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.

Who is at risk?

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

When Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sounds

What to do depends on whether anyone is feeling ill.

If no one is feeling ill:

Silence the alarm.

Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).

Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.

Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:

Evacuate all occupants immediately.

Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.

Call your local emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.

Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.

Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.

Protect Your Family from CO Poisoning

Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.

Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.

Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.

Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.

When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

Submitted by Ron Myers, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department

[ajsbear 11]

Don't forget about Oil Burner puff backs this time of year when people turn on their heat for the first time and then of cause you have the idiots with fire places who don't know what a Flue is!

[Remember585 815]

Funny...I don't smell any CO.....must be OK in here...

[DOC22 1]

Don't forget about Oil Burner puff backs this time of year when people turn on their heat for the first time and then of cause you have the idiots with fire places who don't know what a Flue is!

HAHA We had 1 of each of these in the last 3 days!