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Carbon monoxide

Home Treatment: Get the individual out into fresh air and ventilate the area. Call an ambulance immediately. Artificial breathing may need to be administered if the individual has stopped breathing. PREVENTION Text Continues Below Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your residence, and an additional detector near any major gas-burning appliances (such as a furnace or water heater). Conduct regular maintenance and inspection of gas-burning equipment in the home. Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following information: the patient's age, weight, and condition how long they may have been exposed to the carbon monoxide, if known Poison Control, or a local emergency number: Poison control will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See poison control centers for the national telephone number. What to expect at the emergency room: Some or all of the following may be performed: oxygen will be administered vital signs will be monitored various medications may be administered if needed hyperbaric oxygen therapy at an appropriate facility Expectations (prognosis): If the individual recovers, it will be slowly. Depending on the exposure levels of carbon monoxide and the time of exposure, permanent brain damage may occur. If the individual still has symptoms of impaired mental ability after two weeks, the likelihood of complete recovery is not very good. Even if an individual is symptom free for a while, impaired mental ability can reappear within the first 1-2 weeks.

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