Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Leading Cause of Unintentional Deaths in US says CDC
by admin on 16/08/11 at 9:33 am
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research has revealed that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning was the leading cause of unintentional deaths in the United States between 2000 and 2009.
- Non fire related CO poisoning accounts for approximately 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths annually.
- 68,316 CO exposures were reported reported to poisoning centers between 2000 and 2009
What is Carbon Monoxide?
According to OSHA, “Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can
inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present. CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces and coke ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine.”
inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present. CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces and coke ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine.”
Why is Carbon Monoxide Harmful?
Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the body’s vital organs such as the heart or the brain. When exposed to large enough amounts of CO it can cause you to suffocate or lose consciousness within minutes.
What are the Symptoms of CO poisoning?
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- headache
- dizziness
- weakness
- nausea
- vomiting
- chest pain
- confusion
- loss of consciousness
- suffocation
- death
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawsuits
Carbon Monoxide is produced as a result of the incomplete burning of elements containing carbon. It forms when there is not enough oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2).
Injuries and death usually occur when equipment is not properly installed, maintained, or there is inadequate ventilation.
According to an OSHA CO fact sheet, places you may be exposed to harmful levels of CO include:
|
|
|
Occupations that may cause someone to be exposed to high level of Carbon monoxide include:
|
|
|
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured by carbon monoxide poisoning due to someone else’s negligence, contact our Attorneys for a free consultation.
Add a Link to Your Website or Blog!
