Preventing Fires and Carbon Monoxide Exposure Throughout The Summer
However, it is not just the winters that welcome the slow killer; there have also been many carbon monoxide cases during the summers. So, how many people does carbon monoxide kill in the country? According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 400 CO poisoning victims lose their lives annually in the country. There are around 50,000 plus patients in emergency rooms and 300 annual patients who end up requiring intensive treatment for CO poisoning due to someone else’s negligence.
If you or someone you know has gotten injured or hurt due to CO poisoning, contact Ehline Law and our Los Angeles carbon monoxide lawyers immediately to evaluate your case.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning During Summers
Carbon monoxide results from combustion from certain appliances, mainly fuel-burning appliances, which can be at home or outdoors. During summer, appliances like kerosene burners, charcoal-burning barbeque grills, lanterns, fire pits, and more spread a lot of carbon monoxide into the surroundings.
Carbon monoxide is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States because of the country’s traditions and cultures. Many states here take pride in delivering some of the best BBQs in the country, and where there is BBQ, there is a potential threat of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, these are all outdoor items, and using them outdoors with the proper safety equipment can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some equipment is located indoors, and leaks can potentially cause CO hazards. Equipment that requires gas, such as natural gas refrigerators, fuel-burning space heaters, stoves, dryers, and more, is a massive concern during summers in case of carbon monoxide leaks.
In addition to these types of equipment and appliances, CO poisoning can happen from boats, cars, and even power generators. There have been cases where people leave their cars idle or turn their generators on during a power outage in their garage. This builds up a lot of CO if proper ventilation is not provided.
Replacing Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Many of us have carbon monoxide alarms fitted in our homes, but we rarely check if the batteries are working. Secondly, just like any other product with expiration dates, carbon monoxide alarms have a lifespan of five years. After five years, homeowners must replace the alarms to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning during equipment gas leaks.
If the CO detector does not have an expiration date and you can’t recall the last time it was changed, it is time to replace it.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms
Carbon monoxide is deadly for two reasons, and these are:
- It doesn’t have any smell
- It is odorless.
Due to these two properties, it is very difficult to determine if a house has a leak or not, and during this time, there can be a CO buildup.
However, if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, you must look for symptoms like nausea, rapid heart rate, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, and flu. These are some of the most common symptoms of CO poisoning. However, there can be others as well. CO affects the tissue and leads to brain damage.
Follow These Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips
Although CO poisoning is a slow death, it is preventable by having a CO alarm and following safety tips. Here are a few safety tips to ensure your and your family’s safety.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Many people have a lot of fuel-burning equipment inside their homes, but that doesn’t mean you should get rid of them. Proper ventilation ensures leaks or gases leave the house rather than spread inside.
Check your stove or fireplace; there might be a broken chimney connector pipe that needs to be replaced. If your chimney is blocked, call a professional chimney sweep.
Understanding Symptoms
Above, our Los Angeles burn injury attorneys already discussed the different symptoms you might start to have if exposed too long to carbon monoxide. These symptoms begin by disguising it as a sort of flu, eventually developing more as tissue and brain damage occur. It can be too late to realize that you have CO poisoning and brain damage if you’re unaware of your surroundings or how you feel.
Consider the following signs as CO poisoning:
- Feeling great away from home
- The entire household has flu-like symptoms
- Pets are starting to get sick
- No swollen nodes or infections that come with the flu.
Install CO Alarms
Install and maintain CO alarms, as this will help prevent CO poisoning from happening in your homes. Alarms or CO detectors have a useful life; crossing that longevity can result in a faulty product that may not detect gas leaks. According to California Law, homeowners must install CO alarms in every room with fossil-fuel appliances. Besides that, installing CO detectors on every level of home bedrooms, inside each sleeping area, and outside each sleeping area can help detect any leak and wake you up at night when you’re asleep.
You can also install CO alarms outside to take preventive measures and protect the vulnerable group outdoors.
Keep the Vulnerable Away from Fossil-fuel Equipment
Even if you’re barbecuing outdoors, you must keep the vulnerable away from such outdoor activities. Grill smoke can severely affect children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions if exposed for too long.
Contact our Los Angeles Carbon Monoxide Lawyers Today
You may be eligible for compensation if you’ve gotten hurt or injured from CO poisoning due to someone else’s negligence.
Contact us at (213) 596-9642, and our attorneys will assess your CO poisoning case, determine your claims, and file a lawsuit against the negligent party. While you recover, we will deal with the insurers and get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us for more information.
Citations
https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/toxins/index.html
https://www.resideo.com/us/en/corporate/newsroom/featured-articles/summer-an-unsuspected-season-of-carbon-monoxide-dangers/
https://www.creia.org/california-carbon-monoxide-law-takes-effect/