Carbon monoxide poisoning tied to generator use
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In a study of 10 hospitals in Florida, the vast majority of carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings that occurred during the 2004 hurricane season were related to the use of gasoline-powered portable generators. Six of the generator-related poisonings proved fatal.
“To avoid CO poisoning, portable generators need to be operated outside of any building and far away from doors, windows or air conditioners,” study co-author Dr. David Van Sickle, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, told Reuters Health.
“This is the first time we’ve looked at exposure to CO from portable generators after a warm weather disaster,” he added.
As reported in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, four major hurricanes hit Florida between August 13 and September 25 of last year. The Florida Department of Health noticed an increase in CO poisonings in hurricane-affected counties and the CDC was called in to assist with the investigation.
In the present analysis, the CDC reviewed the medical records of all individuals who were diagnosed with unintentional CO poisoning at one of the study hospitals between August 13 and October 15, 2004.
A total of 167 nonfatal cases, representing 51 exposure incidents, were identified and all but 6 involved individuals who had been using portable generators. As noted, six fatal cases, stemming from five exposure incidents, occurred and all were associated with portable generator use.
The most common symptom, present in 80 percent of cases, was headache, followed by nausea and dizziness, each seen in about 50 percent of patients.
With the nonfatal poisonings, the generator was usually located outdoors, typically near a window or air conditioner, or inside a garage. By contrast, in the cases of fatal poisonings, an indoor location was invariably cited.
“Our findings emphasize that when used outside, portable generators need to be placed a significant distance from the house,” Van Sickle said.
“We are continuing to investigate generator-related CO poisoning in detail to determine why the victims located the generators where they did,” Van Sickle added. “The possibility that the extension cord may be too short has been discussed and it’s something we’re looking into.”
SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 22, 2005.
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