Kansas City, Kan., firefighters rescued a man who was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes yesterday.
According to a spokesman for the Fire Department, the 28-year-old man was using a gasoline-powered concrete saw in his basement about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 8 when he became dizzy.
The resident made his way upstairs to the ground floor, where he passed out for about 4 minutes, the spokesman said. The resident then awoke and called 911.
Emergency crews met the man at the front door and took him from the home into an awaiting EMS unit for evaluation and treatment, the spokesman said.
EMS personnel evaluated the patient and found his carbon monoxide levels were 38 percent, he said. The patient was given oxygen, and then taken to a hospital for care. EMS protocols recommend taking the patient to the hospital if carbon monoxide levels are over 10 or 11 percent, he said.
Crews entered the building and found carbon monoxide readings in the basement to be 780 parts per million, the spokesman said.
Then they ventilated the structure by opening all exterior door and windows resulting in the level being reduced to zero after about 15 minutes, the spokesman said.
Called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and invisible gas, according to information from the Fire Department. It is produced anytime that fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, wood, natural gas, oil and propane burn incompletely.
About 200 to 300 deaths a year are the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the National Safety Council. The Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department responds to more than 50 calls a year to homes and businesses that have elevated levels of carbon monoxide, the spokesman said.
Even small amounts of carbon monoxide over a long period may result in an individual becoming sick, the spokesman said. Furnaces, water heaters, stoves, fueled space heaters and fireplaces all produce some levels of carbon monoxide.
The Fire Department spokesman recommended that homes have a carbon monoxide detector, which can be purchased at hardware stores and other stores. The detectors can be placed in a centrally located area outside of each sleeping area, the spokesman said.. The alarms need to be checked monthly and replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Homes need both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, according to the Fire Department.
The Fire Department also recommended using barbecue grills outside, not inside; have all heating and cooking equipment checked yearly by a professional; never use the stove or oven to heat the home; make sure to open the flue in the fireplace when in use; vehicles that are being warmed should be removed from the garage immediately after starting; do not run engines or motors indoors; and make sure the exhaust of a vehicle is not covered with snow.
Those who think they are the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning should move to fresh air and stay there, the spokesman said. Kansas City, Kan., residents may call the Fire Department for assistance, and wait until the emergency crew says it’s OK to re-enter the building, the spokesman said.