 |
 Winter
is upon us, and that means heating systems are running—creating a
potentially life-threatening condition that many people ignore until it’s
too late. The condition is carbon monoxide poisoning, which injures more
than 10,000 people a year and kills more than 5,000 a year.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless,
odorless gas that is produced when a fuel—such as gas, oil, kerosene,
charcoal, or wood—is burned. Carbon monoxide can be found all around you—in
cellars, sewers, industrial plants and fires. Carbon monoxide poisoning
can occur from exposure to burning coal, oil, wood, gas stoves and ovens,
kerosene or propane heaters and furnaces, water heaters, automobiles,
construction tools, gasoline generators, fire and more.
How does carbon monoxide
enter the body?
Carbon monoxide is released into the air we
breathe and can reach dangerously high levels. When it is inhaled, it
enters the bloodstream and attaches to a blood cell protein called
hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to where it is
needed. When carbon monoxide attaches to the blood cells, they are unable
to carry oxygen to the rest of the body.
What are the possible
effects of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide in your body can be deadly.
This can happen when the gas is absorbed over a short time in a closed
setting, such as a garage or automobile. It can also be fatal if small
amounts of carbon monoxide are inhaled over a long time, which can cause
permanent organ and brain damage, particularly in children, the elderly
and persons with heart disease.
What are the symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning?
Symptoms of possible carbon monoxide
poisoning can include:
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- shortness of breath
- headache, confusion
- dizziness
- chest pain, irregular
heartbeat
- muscle weakness
- convulsions
- unconsciousness, coma.
How can I protect myself
from carbon monoxide poisoning?
"The best protection against carbon
monoxide poisoning is to have a working CO detector in your home, and to
know the symptoms of CO poisoning," says Laurie Gesell, M.D.,
director of The Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at The University Hospital.
Dr. Gesell also recommends the following:
- Use appliances correctly and
have them inspected periodically.
- Maintain good ventilation
before using gas-powered engines (such as snow-blowers) or chemicals
(such as paint remover).
- Have chimneys checked to be
sure the flue is open and connected properly.
- Don’t leave a car idling
inside a garage.
- Don’t sleep in a room with a
gas or kerosene space heater if it is not properly vented.
How is severe carbon
monoxide poisoning treated?
"People with severe carbon monoxide
poisoning should be treated in a hyperbaric chamber," says Dr. Gesell.
"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can save your life and prevent permanent
injury from the poisoning. During treatment, patients are placed in an
airtight chamber and exposed to a pressurized atmosphere filled with 100
percent oxygen, which can increase oxygen levels more than 20 times the
normal amount." The Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at The University
Hospital is the only center of its kind in the Greater Cincinnati Tristate
area.
If you ever suspect a carbon monoxide problem in your
home, get everyone outside for fresh air, and call 911. Prompt
medical treatment is needed for anyone suspected of having carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Sources: Drug
and Poison Information Center of the Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
Cincinnati and Chimney
Safety Institute of America
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Emergency
Services
at the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
When
seconds count . . . Count on us
The
Health Alliance hospitals, Christ, University, St. Luke, Jewish and Fort
Hamilton, are dedicated to providing our community with emergency services
of the highest quality. We offer many of the most experienced and most
trusted emergency care specialists—doctors, trauma surgeons, paramedics,
nurses, social workers and other staff. Our experienced staff members are
experts in every type of urgent care, from minor cuts to severe trauma.
The
Christ Hospital
in Mt. Auburn is a Level II emergency facility, handling most medical,
obstetric and traumatic emergencies. The emergency room specializes in
adult cardiac and complex internal medicine care.
The
University Hospital
in Clifton is the only verified Level I trauma center in the area that
treats adult patients. To receive trauma verification, hospitals must meet
rigorous national standards and have the capability of handling complex
multi-system trauma. The University Hospital is also home to the area’s
only center for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Center for Hyperbaric
Medicine is available 24 hours a day for the treatment of many conditions,
including carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional services include a Rapid
Diagnosis and Treatment Center for patients who require extended emergency
care; a Heart ER program; and a multidisciplinary team of professionals
who evaluate psychiatric emergencies.
The
University Hospital also offers Air Care, the area’s only dedicated
helicopter ambulance service. Our Air Care helicopters deliver superior
care while saving precious seconds that often mean the difference between
life and death. Since 1984, Air Care has provided more than 17,000
life-saving transports to patients within a 150-mile radius of Cincinnati
and beyond.
St.
Luke Hospital East
in Fort Thomas and St. Luke Hospital West in Florence are full
service emergency facilities dedicated to serving the communities of
Northern Kentucky. At St. Luke West, the Pediatric Urgent Care Center
provides immediate medical care to children when their doctors’ offices
are closed. The center is open daily between 4 and 11 p.m.
Serving
Cincinnati’s Northeast suburbs, The Jewish Hospital in Kenwood
offers a full service emergency department that treats patients of all
ages.
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
in Hamilton is a full-service facility that is expanding to accommodate
additional patients. It includes a fast track area that treats most minor
injuries within one hour.
The
University Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals and The Fort Hamilton Hospital
also offer a special program called SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
for survivors of sexual assault. Specially trained nurses in these
emergency departments provide comprehensive, compassionate care for
victims of sexual assault. In addition, they provide evidence to
prosecutors and law enforcement officials to assist in the arrest and
prosecution of sexual assault criminals.
For
more information about the Health Alliance’s emergency services, please
call one of our hospitals:
The
Christ Hospital
2139 Auburn Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-585-2235 |
The
University Hospital
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-584-1000 |
St.
Luke Hospital East
85 North Grand Avenue
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
859-572-3151 |
St.
Luke Hospital West
7380 Turfway Rd.
Florence, KY 41042
859- 962-5482 |
The
Jewish Hospital
4777 E. Galbraith Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-686-3204 |
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
630 Eaton Avenue
Hamilton, OH 45013
513-867-2266 |
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