Youth Hockey Tournament Turns Toxic, Carbon Monoxide Awareness

Sunday's youth hockey tournament turns toxic in Colorado's Jorgensen Event Center as dozens were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Reuters reports of 61 people falling ill after the ice arena they attended became filled with fumes. Gunnison Valley Health Hospital medical staff released the optimistic news of no life-threatening injuries confirming that only two were sent to another facility for further treatment.

Dennis Spritzer told Reuters that the ice scraping machine's exhaust, most likely, filtered back into the arena instead of circulating fresh air. Sports enthusiasts would not have guessed this tournament outcome. What is this potential quiet killer?

Carbon monoxide, or carbon (mono as in one) oxide, is an invisible gas which can cause dizziness, lethargic, sleepiness, headaches, nausea, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in injury or even death. The dangerous gas can leak into a any area, including an arena or a home. But what not to do?

Using clogged chimneys of fireplaces to heat a home could result in carbon monoxide release. Higher levels of carbon monoxide has proven deadly.

Do you have a fireplace?

Check the logs within the fireplace to assure appropriate size. Logs too big can block the vent causing the smoke and fumes to trickle back into the home. The vent within the fireplace could be too small causing the same results. We have experienced this and caught both in time.

Smoke damage can be visually hard to point out on a daily routine as if it is invisible. You could have walked by the deteriorating signs every single day without noticing. We found our carpeted steps telling a tale.

Walk up the stairs that leads to the second floor. Check the closest area of the steps to the fireplace location for dark edges. These areas should be where the carpet meets the woodwork (or banister). A damp white washcloth pressed at the location can result in some dark answers. Look at ceiling above the stairs where the stairs meet the lower-level. If the ceiling in that area appears dark or cloudy it is time for more proof.

Where the upper stairs meets the hallway you may find the same dark corners on the edges of the carpet. The ceiling may also be darker or cloudy. The unusual thing is how the rooms show little, if any, evidence of dark areas. Until you wipe the crown molding and widows or look under the mantle and the ceiling above the fireplace.

If you find questionable dark areas contact your provider and request an equipment evaluation after explaining your concerns.

Gas stoves and open ovens offering heat to a home can also contribute to carbon monoxide poisoning. Non-vented areas near fuel burning locations can trap fumes inside of a room. Having a carbon monoxide detector is not a bad idea since detectors save lives each year.

Snowed in? Make sure the vehicle's exhaust pipe does not have ice or snow plugging it. The fumes can filter back into the car causing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide fumes can find a way from first level to second level motel rooms according to Florida authorities. In December of 2010 five teens were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning while celebrating one teen's 19th birthday in Hialeah's Hotel Presidente. Sure, one would think the fumes came from inside of the non-vented room. However, as reported by Daily Mail, their car was running below - inside of a garage.

Again, ventilation can make all the difference. And understanding the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be a great first-step in measuring survival.

Source(s) Related: Reuters; Daily Mail (accessed Feb 7, 2011)