WorldWide Drilling Resource

35 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® NOVEMBER 2014 Murdered by a Silent Killer by Bonnie Love, Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® It was February 8, 2014, when my family received the devastating news. The bodies of my father and his wife were discovered in my childhood home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They had died of carbon monoxide (CO) poison- ing. Seven children lost a parent, and more than a dozen children lost a grand- parent that day. In the months since, our family has wrestled with the fact that a $50 carbon monoxide detector/alarm could have prevented their death and all of the heartache and sorrow associated with it. My father retired from the U.S. Army with several awards and medals includ- ing a Purple Heart for his service in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was a smart and strong man, but even the strongest of men can lose to an invisible enemy. CO is colorless, odorless, and poi- sonous. It is created through the incom- plete burning of various fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, propane, kerosene, and coal. When inhaled, CO prevents oxygen from getting into the body; organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs basically suf- focate. In low concentrations, CO can poison slowly over a period of several hours; however, if the concentration is high enough, it can kill a person in less than five minutes. Often referred to as a silent killer, CO poisoning often goes unnoticed since the symptoms are very similar to the flu, including headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. High level concentrations cause more serious symptoms such as vomiting, mental con- fusion, loss of consciousness, and even- tually death. Most CO poisonings occur in the winter when we are using our furnaces, heaters, and fireplaces. In addition to having your heating system and fireplace/ chimney serviced by a qualified techni- cian once a year, you can install a carbon monoxide detector. Much like a smoke detector, this simple little device can warn you of high levels of CO in your home. When selecting where to place the CO detector, there are a few things you need to know. 1. If your home has different levels, you should make sure each level has at least one detector. This includes basements and attics. 2. Make sure you have a CO detec- tor within 15 feet of each bedroom door. You may only have minutes to get out of the house, so you will want the detectors to wake you up if nec- essary. 3. If you have an attached garage, you should place a detector within 10 feet of the door entering the house. Remember, if there is a room above the garage, it will also need a detec- tor. Making sure the detectors are in- stalled at the right height is another cru- cial factor. One might assume they should be placed on the ceiling like smoke detec- tors, but that is not always a good idea. The detectors should be placed high on the walls at least a couple of feet below the ceiling. Places to Avoid: a Heating vents, kitchens, or above fuel-burning appliances such as gas ovens and fireplaces. a Bathrooms, places in direct sun- light, or close to appliances which generate heat. a Open windows, or anywhere with a draft, such as near ceiling fans and air returns. DON’T IGNORE A WARNING ALARM! If the CO alarm sounds: 1. Immediately move outside to fresh air. 2. Call the fire department or 911. 3. DO NOT reenter the building until emergency responders have given you permission. 4. If a malfunctioning appliance is determined to be the source of the CO, do not operate the appliance until it has been properly serviced by trained personnel. Please heed our advice and install a carbonmonoxide detector/alarm this year; if you already have one, take a moment to test it and check the batteries to make sure it is working properly this winter.