Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyer. Although many people have carbon monoxide detectors installed in their homes, most don’t think about whether that detector is doing its job or not. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen due to leaks in a gas fireplace, gas range, dryer, water heater or furnace. It can occur outside the home too in boats and motor vehicles.
What Is Carbon Monoxide?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide is a gas that is both colorless and odorless. While it can produce illness, it can also be the cause of sudden death. The number of deaths caused by carbon monoxide is surprising. The CDC reports that between 1999 and 2010, 5,149 persons died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Eliminating the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Install a carbon monoxide detector in the home. A detector can warn you when carbon monoxide is building up in the home. This alerts the homeowner to a problem before tragedy strikes. It is important to have a detector that is either battery operated or has a battery backup in case the power is out. Carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every five years, according to the CDC.
- Check gas appliances for proper venting.
- Don’t ever use tape or other inappropriate material to patch a gas ventilation pipe. Leaking of carbon monoxide into the home, cabin or other building may result.
- Never burn charcoal inside the house. It emits carbon monoxide.
- Get any fossil fuel operated items such as furnaces, water heaters and appliances professionally checked each year.
- Never use flameless chemical heaters, gas camp stoves or generators inside the home.
- If your power goes out or heat isn’t working, never use your gas oven or stove to try and heat your home. Carbon monoxide will build up as a result and endanger you and your family.
- Have your chimney cleaned on a yearly basis or at least checked to see if it needs cleaning. Blockages inside a chimney can cause carbon monoxide buildup.
What to Do If the Carbon Monoxide Detector Sounds an Alarm
If the alarm sounds, you and your family need to get to fresh air at once. In other words, go outdoors, opening windows along the way. Check family members for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include headache, dizziness, weakness, confusion, vomiting, nausea, lack of ability to catch their breath, blurry vision, and loss of consciousness. Call 911 for assistance if anyone exhibits any of these symptoms. Don’t reenter the home until it has been checked by the proper authorities.
Carbon Monoxide Detector Recalls
A detector for CM, just as other electronic devices, can malfunction or have to be recalled. In 2016, Kidde recalled millions of their detectors that were sold in the United States and Canada. They were manufactured between 2004 and 2010. The problem was that the batteries inside the detectors had passed their time of usefulness and might malfunction. An individual who suffers a traumatic injury or a family member’s death due to defective carbon monoxide detectors may be eligible to seek fair compensation for their loss through a product liability lawsuit or wrongful death suit.
Ford Explorer CO2 Hazard
Ford issued a statement in November, offering to do free repairs on over 1.3 million Ford Explorers because of complaints of carbon monoxide seeping into the vehicle. Affected models are those manufactured from 2011 through 2017. According to a report by CBS News, the number of complaints continues to grow and is being investigated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
More from Ed Smith, Personal Injury Lawyer in Elk Grove:
Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyer. Being the victim of a defective product or losing a family member is a traumatic experience. If you or your loved ones have been injured, call me at (916) 694-0002. I am here to offer you friendly, free advice. Outside the local area, call (800) 404-5400.
Comments and reviews by clients are found at Avvo, Google and Yelp.
On Verdicts and Settlements at my website, AutoAccident.com, you can view a list of cases and their results.
After over 35 years as an injury lawyer in Northern California and Elk Grove, I am honored to have represented many victims of injuries such as brain injuries and in wrongful death claims.
As a Million Dollar Forum member from California, I am a trial lawyer with awards and verdicts of $1 million or more.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/smoke-detector-fire-alarm-burning-315874/
Final Photo Attribution: Ed Smith, Personal Injury Lawyer in Elk Grove
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