Carbon monoxide poisioning what to do now?

[jfish1936]

Your medical opinion, based on.....?

 

You are also presuming that its the boiler that is the problem. Likely but not conclusive.

 

A friend of mine and her baby killed with this, take no chances. Tenants should absolutely insist on the gas safety certificate and owners should not skimp on a yearly check either.

 

 

.

 

My medical opinion, based on M.B, Ch.B. Sheffield 1959, and specialist anaesthetic practice, is that, for a family who got out before they suffered evident symptoms, they are at little risk.

Carbon monoxide converts the haemoglobin of blood to carboxyhaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. If the carbon monoxide is no longer breathed, the carboxyhaemoglobin gradually reverts to haemoglobin. Oxygen therapy speeds this.

Have they given up smoking?

Edited October 4, 2013 by jfish1936

[Clown Shoes]

Did you not read my thread properly? The home has been condemned! That means its not safe to live in! If it was as simple as turning the boiler off then people wouldn't die from it would they! And no she nor her family are walking around fine actually they have all had headaches etc for a while now.

 

Anyway I'm sure you'll find a thread that requires less intelligence on the "I'm bored" section.

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:42 ----------

 

 

Thanks for your reply, that's quite scary statistics but definitely good advice.

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:43 ----------

 

 

She's ok for a while at her in laws but yes definitely he should be making sure it's safe etc ASAP. Thank you

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:44 ----------

 

 

No it's not a legal requirement but advisable :-(

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:48 ----------

 

 

That's terrible Hun really, I fear we were nearly in the same situation and its really scared us. I can't imagine losing my friends to something like that or at all really! Just feel so sorry for them and what could of happened! The boiler was in the little bedroom which would of been her sons room but he was having trouble sleeping when they first moved in so he went in with his sister and has been there since THANK GOD!!!!!

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:49 ----------

 

 

Yeah that's definitely tomorrow's plan first thing. Thank you :-)

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 00:52 ----------

 

 

Apparently there is a certificate the previous tenant who we no luckily remembers it being checked. Funny though she says she was always poorly when in that home and her kids, but fine now! She said this before today's events just to avoid biased lol :-( so how legit was that test???!!!

 

Call Gas Safe.

 

They will advise.

[Obelix]

My medical opinion, based on M.B, Ch.B. Sheffield 1959, and specialist anaesthetic practice, is that, for a family who got out before they suffered evident symptoms, they are at little risk.

Carbon monoxide converts the haemoglobin of blood to carboxyhaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. If the carbon monoxide is no longer breathed, the carboxyhaemoglobin gradually reverts to haemoglobin. Oxygen therapy speeds this.

Have they given up smoking?

 

My understanding was that neurological sequalae can occur up to 40 days post exposure, and if they are still walking around with a headache it sounds like more than a trivial exposure.

[jfish1936]

I would like to know the units in which the "32" quoted was measured. 32 parts per million is less than the US mandated 50 ppm for long term exposure.

 

Wikipaedia says:

Chronic exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide may cause persistent headaches, lightheadedness, depression, confusion, memory loss, nausea and vomiting.[32] It is unknown whether low-level chronic exposure may cause permanent neurological damage.[17] Typically, upon removal from exposure to carbon monoxide, symptoms usually resolve themselves, unless there has been an episode of severe acute poisoning.[32] However, one case noted permanent memory loss and learning problems after a 3-year exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace.[33

 

So I would expect those who have not suffered an acute high dosage episode to recover slowly in clean air. It may be worth having blood tested for Carboxyhaemoglobin level, but how long have they been out of the house? Also, have they given up smoking and forbidden smoking around their children?

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 22:21 ----------

 

The acute effects produced by carbon monoxide in relation to ambient concentration in parts per million are listed below:[14][15]

 

Concentration and Symptoms

35 ppm (0.0035%) Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of constant exposure

100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours

200 ppm (0.02%) Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of judgment

400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours

800 ppm (0.08%) Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min; insensible within 2 hours

1,600 ppm (0.16%) Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in less than 2 hours

3,200 ppm (0.32%) Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning )

 

So it is important to know the units of the "32"; presumably it was in expired air. Pity we don't know what level the plumber measured.

Was exposure only for a few weeks? Can we say how many weeks?

Edited October 4, 2013 by jfish1936

[melthebell]

Your medical opinion, based on.....?

 

You are also presuming that its the boiler that is the problem. Likely but not conclusive.

 

A friend of mine and her baby killed with this, take no chances. Tenants should absolutely insist on the gas safety certificate and owners should not skimp on a yearly check either.

 

 

.

 

apparently me, my sister and mum were overcome by it when little, and almost died, we were unconscious when my dad came home from work and dragged us out

[TimmyR]

My medical opinion, based on M.B, Ch.B. Sheffield 1959, and specialist anaesthetic practice, is that, for a family who got out before they suffered evident symptoms, they are at little risk.

Carbon monoxide converts the haemoglobin of blood to carboxyhaemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. If the carbon monoxide is no longer breathed, the carboxyhaemoglobin gradually reverts to haemoglobin. Oxygen therapy speeds this.

Have they given up smoking?

 

Jees, take your medical opinion elsewhere. We want half baked opinions based on something someones mother once said. Thats the only safe medical advice to listen to.

[happylady]

Does the landlord have gas appliances serviced annually. This is a legal requirement and if he doesn't then there should be some way of getting some compensation if only to deter him from doing the same thing again.

[Supertramp]

Does the landlord have gas appliances serviced annually. This is a legal requirement and if he doesn't then there should be some way of getting some compensation if only to deter him from doing the same thing again.

 

She has already confirmed there was a gas safety certificate.

[metalman]

Your medical opinion, based on.....?

 

You are also presuming that its the boiler that is the problem. Likely but not conclusive.

 

A friend of mine and her baby killed with this, take no chances. Tenants should absolutely insist on the gas safety certificate and owners should not skimp on a yearly check either.

 

 

.

 

My opinion based on working with CO for the last 30 years and knowing what I'm talking about. That good enough?

 

And the original post did not say they were walking around with a headache, that came later. My reply was if they're walking around and feeling fine then they probably don't need any further treatment and I stand by that. If they're walking around not feeling fine they should see a doctor. Simples.

[tifftifco2]

I would like to know the units in which the "32" quoted was measured. 32 parts per million is less than the US mandated 50 ppm for long term exposure.

 

Wikipaedia says:

Chronic exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide may cause persistent headaches, lightheadedness, depression, confusion, memory loss, nausea and vomiting.[32] It is unknown whether low-level chronic exposure may cause permanent neurological damage.[17] Typically, upon removal from exposure to carbon monoxide, symptoms usually resolve themselves, unless there has been an episode of severe acute poisoning.[32] However, one case noted permanent memory loss and learning problems after a 3-year exposure to relatively low levels of carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace.[33

 

So I would expect those who have not suffered an acute high dosage episode to recover slowly in clean air. It may be worth having blood tested for Carboxyhaemoglobin level, but how long have they been out of the house? Also, have they given up smoking and forbidden smoking around their children?

 

---------- Post added 04-10-2013 at 22:21 ----------

 

The acute effects produced by carbon monoxide in relation to ambient concentration in parts per million are listed below:[14][15]

 

Concentration and Symptoms

35 ppm (0.0035%) Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of constant exposure

100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours

200 ppm (0.02%) Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of judgment

400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours

800 ppm (0.08%) Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min; insensible within 2 hours

1,600 ppm (0.16%) Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in less than 2 hours

3,200 ppm (0.32%) Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2–3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning )

 

So it is important to know the units of the "32"; presumably it was in expired air. Pity we don't know what level the plumber measured.

Was exposure only for a few weeks? Can we say how many weeks?

 

Only 1 smoker in the household and yes she has stopped and she never smoked in the house anyway!

 

Although im not disputing the figures, wilkipedia is a most unreliable source to cite information from as it can be edited from anyone, hense why we cant use it in research at university.

 

The problem is solved now.