Campers suffer Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas.  Two campers recently learned how dangerous it can be, says Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch.  “We got dispatched to a call last week of an auto accident involving a single female and that she had run into a tree in one of the local campgrounds.  She had gotten dizzy, hit the tree, and hit hard enough in her car that her airbags actually deployed.  So, a pretty significant impact.  But she had gone back to her camp because she and another person were tent camping.  Upon further evaluation in talking to staff and talking to the people along with EMS, we determined that they had gotten cold the night before and had used the small propane heater to heat during the night.  It being an enclosed area as much as a tent is, they both woke up that next morning with dizziness, headaches and some nausea, which are tell-tale signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.  She attempted to drive and wrecked because of it.  Once EMS was on the scene and assessed, EMS has a tool that measures of their fingertips their carbon monoxide levels and normal levels for a non-smoker are 0-5 percent, and levels for a smoker range from 5-10 percent but each one of these people that were involved had levels of 25 percent, which is very excessive.  So, they were taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.  So, it is still a very real risk even in a tent, any enclosed area, and anything that is a gas-burning stove or heater can put off carbon monoxide.  Just don’t want people to let their guards down and think that just because it didn’t happen in a house that it can’t happen but it can even happen in a tent.”  To avoid carbon monoxide exposure, always run heaters and generators in well-ventilated locations outdoors away from windows, doors, and vent openings.