Feb 4, 2007 11:14 am US/Central
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The Warning Signs
by Terri Gruca
(WCCO)
For each person who dies of carbon monoxide poisoning in Minnesota, 18 others are sickened by the gas. Hennepin County Medical Center has treated 19 people in the past month.
The gas is so dangerous and so deadly that one can suffer the effects for months.
A fun-filled weekend outing to Pepin, Wis. nearly ended in tragedy for a group of friends despite the fact the cabin where they were staying had a carbon monoxide alarm.
They had problems with the boiler and managed to get it working, but shortly after going to bed, Jerold Bretoi said he began to feel sick.
"All of a sudden I thought headache, arms hurt, dizzy -- and all of a sudden like a big light went off ... carbon monoxide, get out," said Bretoi.
Steve Klossner of the American Lung Association of Minnesota said many people like Bretoi are simply lucky.
"It takes away your ability to reason very quickly, and they may respond to it or react to it inappropriately because they don't recognize what's going on," said Klossner.
Carbon monoxide alarms like the one in the Wisconsin cabin are pretty common. Alarms are what most people buy because they are cheaper.
However, unlike carbon monoxide monitors that will give an earlier warning, carbon monoxide alarms don't sound until CO levels reach 70 ppm or 30 ppm for 30 days.
"I think there are many more thousands of people exposed to low level and have what I would call as flu-like symptoms for long periods of time that go undetected," said Klossner.
You only need to remember the North Branch case that happened in December 2006.
Police believe Mitchell Carlson was suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning the night he was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk.
His 17-year-old son later died from CO poisoning.
Bretoi and his friends all survived, but they've learned you need to pay more attention to the alarms you install at home.
"You just think everything's fine because you got one, and it's not true," said Bretoi.
Most CO alarms have digital numbers. Officials warn to pay close attention to those numbers and check it daily because even if the alarm doesn't sound you can often press the test button and see the highest level detected. If it's above zero you should call someone to check your home for carbon monoxide leaks.
Carbon monoxide monitors are more sensitive and you can buy one from the American Lung Association of Minnesota for $130.
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