Press Release
SEPTEMBER 1st, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
NEWS
MEDIA ONLY: TIM O’CONNOR
561-671-4013 or
press50@doh.state.fl.us |
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL—Carbon
Monoxide poisonings have
risen at an alarming rate
prompting the Palm Beach
County Health Department to
issue a preventive warning.
With 28 people poisoned by
CO already this year, the
county is experiencing the
highest number of cases ever
reported in previous years.
Palm Beach County Health
Department Epidemiologists
continue to track this trend
yet have not determined a
cause for the big change
this year.
“We continue to investigate
the causes of the sharp rise
this year,” said Health
Department Director Alina
Alonso, MD. “Carbon Monoxide
poisonings are definitely
preventable.” Dr. Alonso
added that her department is
issuing the warning to
create awareness that Carbon
Monoxide poisoning can be
fatal and educate people on
prevention measures they can
follow.
Invisible, odorless and
tasteless, CO is a highly
poisonous gas produced by
burning fuels such as
gasoline, natural gas,
kerosene, charcoal and wood.
To date, six events involved
cars left running in garages
affecting 15 people, three
events involved the use of
grills inside homes
affecting 11 people and one
event involved a boat that
affected two people. Of
these, three died. Symptoms
of CO poisoning include
fatigue, chest pain,
impaired vision and
coordination, headaches,
dizziness, confusion, and
nausea.
Dr. Alonso’s suggestions for
preventing carbon monoxide
poisoning include:
-
Install and use
fuel-burning appliances
according to
manufacturer
instructions.
-
Have fuel-burning
appliances inspected and
serviced annually by a
licensed contractor.
-
Inspect exhaust
ventilation systems,
including chimneys,
flues and vents, every
year.
-
NEVER burn charcoal
inside a house, garage,
vehicle or tent, even in
a fireplace.
-
Avoid using unvented gas
or kerosene heaters in
enclosed spaces,
especially sleeping
areas.
-
NEVER leave an
automobile running in a
garage, even with the
garage door open.
-
Do not leave the rear
window or tailgate of a
vehicle open while
driving. CO from the
exhaust can be pulled
inside the car, van or
camper.
-
Install CO alarms inside
the house. Purchase
battery operated CO
alarms or plug-in CO
alarms with battery
backup according to
manufacturer’s
installation
instructions.
-
The CO alarm should meet
the most recent UL 2034
standard, IAS 6-96
standard or the CSA
6.19.01 standard.
-
Replace CO alarm
batteries once a year
and test alarms
frequently.
-
Replace CO alarms once
every five years in
accordance with recent
recommendations by the
U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission.
-
NEVER use a portable
generator indoors,
including in homes,
garages, basements,
crawl spaces, sheds and
other enclosed or
partially enclosed
areas. ALWAYS place
portable generators
outdoors on a dry
surface, away from
doors, windows, vents
and air conditioning
equipment that could
allow CO to enter.
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