Citation

Silvers SM, Hampson NB. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1995; 274(20): 1614-1616.

Affiliation

Hyperbaric Department, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Wash, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7474247

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To describe the case characteristics of a series of patients poisoned with carbon monoxide (CO) while boating for recreation. DESIGN--Cases of patients referred for treatment of CO poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen were reviewed. Those cases that occurred during recreational boating were selected for analysis. SETTING--A private, urban, tertiary care center studied from July 1984 to June 1994. PATIENTS--Thirty-nine patients ranging in age from 6 months to 69 years who were poisoned in 27 separate incidents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Characteristics of the poisoning incidents were assessed at initial patient presentation, immediately following treatment, and with follow-up telephone interviews. RESULTS--Of 512 patients treated for acute unintentional CO poisoning, 39 cases (8%) occurred in 27 incidents related to recreational boating activities. Individuals typically lost consciousness as a result of the poisoning. Most cases occurred aboard a boat that was older than 10 years, had an enclosable cabin, was longer than 22 feet, was powered by a gasoline engine, and was without a CO detector on board. CONCLUSIONS--Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious hazard associated with recreational boating. The installation of CO detectors aboard boat types typically associated with this syndrome should be strongly encouraged.

Language: en