Hunter H18 - Page 37

Hu
nt
e
r 1
8
• Boatin
g
Safet
y
4.
5
An
y
device that burns
f
uel creates
C
arbon Monoxide. For
e
xample, a propane cook-top or a space heater are both
potential sources for C
O
. But the most serious dan
g
er
c
omes
f
rom the
g
asoline en
g
ines and
g
enerators aboard
y
our own and nei
g
hborin
g
boats. There are
f
our basic
wa
y
s that C
O
from a runnin
g
en
g
ine or
g
enerator can
e
nter
y
our boat.
The “station wa
g
on effect” results from the aerod
y
namics
of
deck cabins and
f
l
y
in
g
brid
g
es. With the boat under-
wa
y
, the air
f
low over the top
f
orms a low pressure area
b
e
hi
n
d
t
h
e ca
bi
n or transom w
hi
c
h
can suc
k
ex
h
aust
g
as-
ses into the cockpit and the cabin ine
ff
icient trim an
g
les
also can cause the station wa
g
on e
ff
ect
.
4
.2.4 S
y
mptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisonin
g
M
ost
i
mportant
i
s to
k
now t
h
e causes, stu
dy
t
h
e s
y
mp-
toms, and be trained in the emer
g
enc
y
care. This is
the best wa
y
to avoid, understand, and respond to an
y
C
arbon Monoxide emer
g
enc
y:
O
ne or more o
f
the
f
ollowin
g
s
y
mptoms can si
g
nal the
adverse effects of Carbon Monoxide accumulation. The
o
rder o
f
this list is
g
enerall
y
the sequence o
f
s
y
mptoms.
H
owever, the number o
f
s
y
mptoms and the order o
f
their
appearance ma
y
chan
g
e for different people.
Waterin
g
and Itchin
g
e
y
es
Tigh
tness
i
n t
h
e c
h
es
t
Flushed A
pp
earanc
e
Rin
g
in
g
in the ears
Th
ro
bbi
n
g
T
emp
l
es
I
nattentiveness Convulsion
s
D
rowsines
s
H
ea
d
ac
he
D
izziness
V
omitin
g
Colla
p
s
e
Nause
a
Fati
g
u
e
4
.2.5 Effects of Carbon Monoxid
e
When inhaled, Carbon Monoxide is absorbed b
y
the
lun
g
s and reacts with the blood hemo
g
lobin to
f
orm
c
arbon hemo
g
lobin, which reduces the ox
yg
en carr
y
in
g
c
apacit
y
of the blood. The result is a lack of ox
yg
en
f
or the tissues, causin
g
subsequent tissue death and, i
f
prolon
g
ed, death o
f
the individual.
C
arbon Monoxide in
hi
g
h concentrations can be fatal in a matter of minutes.
E
ven lower concentrations must not be i
g
nored because
the a
ff
ects o
f
exposure to
CO
are cumulative and can
be
j
ust as lethal.
C
ertain health related problems and
a
g
e increases the effects of C
O
. People who smoke or
are exposed to hi
g
h concentrations o
f
ci
g
arette smoke,
c
onsume alcohol, or have lun
g
or heart disorders are
particularl
y
susceptible to an increase in the effects from
CO
. However, the health o
f
all o
f
the boat’s occupants
should be considered. Ph
y
sical exertion accelerates the
rate at which the blood absorbs C
O
. The earl
y
effects
of
CO
poisonin
g
are eas
y
to overlook because the
y
are
similar to the e
ff
ects o
f
other boatin
g
related stress such
as e
y
e strain, fati
g
ue, sun exposure, seasickness, or
alcohol consumption. But, as the concentration o
f
CO
in
the air increases, it has increasin
g
l
y
adverse e
ff
ects on
y
our
h
ea
l
t
h
.
4
.2.6 When Overcome b
y
Carbon Monoxid
e
When someone
f
alls victim to
C
arbon Monoxide poison-
in
g
,
f
ast and responsive action is crucial. Know the s
y
mp-
toms. The earlier the effects of C
O
are detected, the
better the chances
f
or recover
y
. The
f
ollowin
g
list shows
the sequences o
f
events that must be done in an e
ff
ort to
revive a C
O
victim
:
Evacuate, Ventilate, Investi
g
ate, complete the
C
arbon
M
onoxide poisonin
g
action sequenc
e
Mo
v
e
th
e
vi
c
tim t
o
fr
es
h
a
ir
.
Administer ox
yg
en i
f
available. I
f
the victim is not
breathin
g
, per
f
orm arti
f
icial resuscitation per approved
C
PR procedures until medical help arrives and takes
o
ver. Prompt action can mean the di
ff
erence between
li
fe
a
n
d
dea
th.
Ve
nt
ila
t
e
t
he
a
r
ea
.
Investi
g
ate the source o
f
CO
and take corrective
ac
ti
o
n
.
As alwa
y
s,
y
ou can contact the Red Cross to obtain
in
f
ormation
f
or trainin
g
in
C
PR or emer
g
enc
y
response
care
.
4
.2.7 How to Minimize the Accumulation of Carbon
M
onoxid
e
P
ractice
g
ood inspection and maintenance habits. Be
ce
rt
a
in h
u
ll
e
xh
aus
t
ou
tl
e
t
s
a
r
e
n
o
t
b
l
oc
k
ed
o
r r
es
tri
c
t
ed
i
n an
y
wa
y.
Be alert
f
or exhaust
g
asses
f
rom other boats. Alwa
y
s
prov
id
e a
d
equate vent
il
at
i
on w
h
en weat
h
er enc
l
osures
are in place and en
g
ines or
g
enerator is runnin
g.
D
o not run w
i
t
h
a
high
b
ow an
gl
e.
U
se tr
i
m ta
b
s or re
di
s-
tribute the load to maintain a low bow an
g
le.
O
rient
y
our
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