What is Carbon Monoxide? - Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels like gasoline and diesel. CO kills hundreds of people each year because of malfunctioning equipment, leaking engine exhaust, and improper ventilation.
How Does CO Effect Us? - Carbon Monoxide compromises the function of the hemoglobin in the blood that is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body. Contact with excessive levels of CO deprives the heart and brain of oxygen needed for life. CO also has an adverse impact on the central nervous system.
Symptoms of CO Poisoning - Initial symptoms can include irritated eyes, nausea, headache, fatigue, and drowsiness. CO poisoning can be confused with the symptoms of seasickness. Severe exposure can cause tightness of the chest, chest pain, vomiting, muscle weakness, or loss of consciousness. Severe CO poisoning will cause death without medical intervention.
First-Aid for CO Poisoning - If you think a person onboard your vessel has CO poisoning, immediately:
- Move the patient immediately to fresh air
- Call 911 for help
- Administer oxygen if the patient is breathing
- Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) if the patient has stopped breathing
How Does it Reach Us? - Carbon Monoxide fumes can buildup under canvas enclosures, can be trapped in closed spaces, leak from faulty or blocked exhaust systems, draft into the back of the boat (station wagon effect), drift in from a nearby or rafted vessel, or overtake a slow moving vessel with a tailwind.
How Can I Protect Myself? - There are several proactive ways to fight CO poisoning.
- Properly maintain your vessel's exhaust system, use double exhaust clamps, and inspect it on a regular basis
- Ensure your engine is tuned, runs smoothly, and is regularly maintained
- Know the locations of all exhaust outlets and limit access to areas around them
- Install a CO detector designed for marine use on your boat. Assume any alarm sounded is a real emergency
- Don't allow passengers to hang off of your vessel's swim step while the engines or generators are running. Houseboats suffered major numbers of deaths and injuries from this practice
- Learn to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning, watch for them while onboard, and treat possible poisoning aggressively
- Ventilate the cabin while using any fuel burning appliance
- Avoid running engines or generators while sleeping aboard
- Keep your vessel well ventilated at all times. Keep a forward port window open while underway. Ventilation is even more critical at speeds under 10 knots and while a vessel is moored or at anchor
- Get a Vessel Safety Check from the US Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary
Beware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning while using your boat. A brochure called Danger Carbon Monoxide can be downloaded as a PDF. Good maintenance and awareness are the best defenses against CO poisoning.
