Burning fuels like gas, oil, and wood releases carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless silent killer that, when inhaled in high doses, can lead to significant health issues or even death. You can consult Washington State’s expert legal scholars for more information.
One of the byproducts of combustion is carbon monoxide (CO). Everyday home objects, including charcoal grills, portable generators, oil-burning stoves, and gas fireplaces, can expose people to this deadly gas.
The unintentional CO poisoning that does not stem from fires kills more than 400 Americans annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, there are approximately 4,000 hospital admissions and over 20,000 ER visits.
What signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are present?
The following are CO poisoning’s most typical symptoms:
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Dull headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
Your body will start to replace the oxygen in your blood with CO if you breathe in a lot of CO. This can cause you to lose consciousness. These situations may result in death. Even if you do not exhibit any signs of CO poisoning, you should visit the hospital as soon as possible if you have encountered a source of CO. If someone else’s negligence caused the exposure, you should first consult an experienced attorney.
Treatment for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Moving away from the potential source of CO gas and contacting medical services is the first step. A medicine expert will be able to diagnose symptoms correctly. A person might need to be admitted to the hospital if their symptoms are severe. One of the therapies used in hospitals is 100% oxygen delivered via mask. An oxygen mask may hasten the synthesis of oxyhemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, to assist in replacing carboxyhemoglobin, a protein with carbon.
A medical practitioner may suggest hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) if they believe there has been significant CO exposure or suspect nerve injury. Purified oxygen is infused into the blood during this treatment to compensate for the oxygen deficiency brought on by CO gas poisoning. A patient in a coma, someone experiencing a loss or reduction in oxygen flow, someone with a history of losing consciousness, someone with an abnormal ECG reading or decreased brain activity, and pregnant women may require HBOT.
Maintaining the safety of your family requires that you be aware of the risks posed by carbon monoxide and take precautions to avoid exposure. It is crucial to keep your HVAC system, install carbon monoxide detectors, and know what to do in case of a leak.