Beware carbon monoxide

[pmdave]

Let's all pass the word to remind everyone that running engines, space heaters, etc. inside a living space is a quick ticket to death.

There was a big windstorm in the Seatte area that blew down many trees and damaged powerlines. With temperatures near freezing at night, and no electrical power, many residents resorted to generators and space heaters.

I would assume that most people understand that gas engines produce carbon monoxide, and that CO is a colorless, oderless gas that can quickly cause death.

Apparently, my assumption is incorrect. In the Seattle area over the past couple of days, at least 12 people have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. In one house, 4 people were found dead, with a generator running in the attached garage and the door closed. Others have died from cooking outside on a hibachi, and then bringing it inside to help warm the house. Two young men died when they tried to stay warm by running a car in the closed garage.

CO is breathed in just like oxygen, but it displaces the oxygen. You can't smell it, can't see it, and won't get any symptoms other than a headache and the urge to sleep, when you're close to expiring.

For yourself, never run your bike inside a closed garage. And please, spread the word about this danger to anyone you see running an engine in a closed space.

pmdave

[Rasbutan]

Add em to the Darwin Awards.

:bolt

[screwtop]

Let's all pass the word to remind everyone that running engines, space heaters, etc. inside a living space is a quick ticket to death.

There was a big windstorm in the Seatte area that blew down many trees and damaged powerlines. With temperatures near freezing at night, and no electrical power, many residents resorted to generators and space heaters.

I would assume that most people understand that gas engines produce carbon monoxide, and that CO is a colorless, oderless gas that can quickly cause death.

Apparently, my assumption is incorrect. In the Seattle area over the past couple of days, at least 12 people have died of carbon monoxide poisoning. In one house, 4 people were found dead, with a generator running in the attached garage and the door closed. Others have died from cooking outside on a hibachi, and then bringing it inside to help warm the house. Two young men died when they tried to stay warm by running a car in the closed garage.

CO is breathed in just like oxygen, but it displaces the oxygen. You can't smell it, can't see it, and won't get any symptoms other than a headache and the urge to sleep, when you're close to expiring.

For yourself, never run your bike inside a closed garage. And please, spread the word about this danger to anyone you see running an engine in a closed space.

pmdave

Good post pm Dave. People need to be aware of this during this and the winter and hurricane seasons when power outages may be prevalent. Quick correction on CO however. It's a chemical asphyxiant that binds to hemoglobin with 300 times the affinity than that of Oxygen. Simple asphyxiants (such as nitrogen) act to displace oxygen like you suggested. These can be just as deadly (or more so) in confined spaces.

Have a safe Holiday!

[John Brase]

Add em to the Darwin Awards.

:bolt
Harsh.

But, I'll tell you a story. Years ago, one cold near Christmas night, I built a big, roaring, festive fire in the fireplace as the snow gently fell outside the windows. As my wife went to put our son to bed she passed out and fell to the floor. She came to quickly but our son was already unconcious. We jumped in the car and raced to the hospital. By the time we got there our son was awake and OK. The fresh air cured him.

With the house closed up in the cold, the draft from the fire was drawing air from wherever it could and that turned out to be from the furnace flue. We were sucking carbon monoxide from the furnace directly into the house.

Be aware.

John

[pmdave]

In the Seattle area, it turns out that a high percentage of those who died of CO poisoning were Asians who weren't aware of the danger. American building codes require much tighter structures that allow exchange of outside air at a very controlled rate.

Good point about fireplaces, which require combustion air from somewhere. One of the advantages of today's woodstoves and installations is the requirement that combustion air be ducted directly to the stove from outside the foundation wall.

My point in all of this is to remind yourself of the hazards of CO, and just as importantly be aware of your friends and neighbors and stick your nose in their business when you see them doing something un-smart--such as running a generator in the garage, or tuning up their bike in the garage with the door closed.

pmdave

[Montana]

I'll point out another way this happens: natural gas or propane gas stove tops and ovens. Folks will use these as space heaters when the power is out, light the burners or even open the oven door and have the oven lit.

Same for those homes with electric cooktops - they bring in a Coleman or other liquid fuel camping stove to use for cooking, then leave it burning for the extra heat.

This time of year, if I am slow cooking something on a stovetop burner I will turn on the exhaust fan to assure there is a draw and even open the porch door a little bit, even if it is only 20F outside.

CO detectors in your home are as important as smoke detectors.