“Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” Dan Gable (1948, bio link)
The human body is an aerobic organism, one living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen. Please think of the impact oxygen has within the body and become alerted to the sequelae associated with the reduction of oxygen in that body through the inhalation of carbon monoxide. This chain reaction of events can be subtle at the onset at levels less than 50 PPM and easily not correlated to CO exposure. Chronic exposures under 30 PPM may result in even longer subtleties, also with a variety of poor health symptoms.
In this case we reference carboxyhemoglobinemia - a toxic condition that results from inhaling and absorbing carbon monoxide gas through the airways and into blood; carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin and displaces oxygen in the blood. This is also referred to as carbon monoxide poisoning and can be measured in % of concentration in the hemoglobin in blood.
The need to test symptomatic patients daily is becoming more and more vital as exposures to the poisonous gas increases as the reliance on fossil fuels in the human culture continues and increases. This can be performed routinely, non-invasively, and perhaps at the same time blood pressure is being measured. What would keep a health care provider from taking this test when known CO poisoning symptoms are presented to them by a patient?
The medical profession, founded on trial and error, research, practice and interactive science has until recently spent limited time in the study and daily diagnosis of chronic human exposures to common low level carbon monoxide atmospheres. Interviewed physicians & health care professionals admittedly have received little more than symptomatic discourses on acute exposures where the consequences of rapid and extreme levels of the poison have resulted in severe oxidative stress, disability and death. None would disagree, that supplemental oxygen therapy or pressurized oxygen therapy is the antidote for acute CO poisoning. The antidote prevents further damage, but damage has been done and, there are consequences.
Every day is a good day to test for carbon monoxide. There are many ways and places to test. Bob Dwyer, CSME Carbon Monoxide Safety
CO News links
Two men poisoned by carbon monoxide leak in Stanmore
Hampshire Chronicle
A city council spokesman said gas had been turned off at the home and the property's boiler and carbon monoxide detector passed safety checks in April. The spokesman added: “We will carry out an investigation into how this happened but we cannot access ...
Mansfield couple recovering after being overcome by carbon monoxide
Fort Worth Star Telegram
MANSFIELD -- A couple and their child were recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning Wednesday, two days after the adults were found unconscious in their closed garage where a vehicle had been left running. Jordan and Carolyn Lewis and their ...
SaskPower reminds customers of carbon monoxide risks
Southwest Booster
SaskPower reminds customers of ways they can protect themselves from carbon monoxide in their homes and businesses, in light of several recent incidents in the province involving the deadly gas. “The first thing customers should do is make sure any gas ...
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $62K FEDERAL GRANT FOR SENECA ...
FireEngineering.com
"This is a wonderful opportunity to provide smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for seniors and income-eligible families in Seneca County. Smoke detectors provide the single most cost-effective tool for saving lives in the event of a fire ...
· Heart Rescue Now This link takes you to a very short video that is a practical demonstration on the proper usage of an AED. This video is tastefully done & demonstrates the step-by-step way one might be able to save a life.
· Please take CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CARE during all holiday and everyday activities.
· Carbon Monoxide Survivor A website made by poisoning survivors that brings a view that can only come from those that know what it is like to have been poisoned - as well as live with the long term impact.
· Consider low level protection for carbon monoxide and smoldering fire detection problems; don't leave anyone behind.
National Conference of State Legislatures
Carbon Monoxide Detectors State Statutes
Twenty-five U.S. states have statutes that require carbon monoxide detectors in certain residential buildings. Updated Nov. 2011
Alaska | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts| Michigan | Minnesota | Montana | New Jersey | New Hampshire | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Rhode Island | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | West Virginia
Google Maps to reference the locations referenced in these Internet headlines.
The following companies are acknowledged for their continued support of carbon monoxide safety education and this daily news blog. They may just have what you are looking for.
Fieldpiece Instruments
The Energy Conservatory
IntelliTec Colleges
CO Experts
Masimo (See the non-invasive RAD-57)
Mahugh Fire & Safety
ESCO Institute
TPI - Test Products International
Every Day is Carbon Monoxide Safety Day!
