Silverton 38 CONVERTIBLE, Owner'S Manual

Page: 48 / 220

SAFETY-10
WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE
IS OVERCOME WITH CARBON
MONOXIDE
When someone falls victim to carbon mon-
oxide poisoning, fast and responsive action
is crucial. Know the symptoms. The earlier
effects of CO are detected the better the
chance for recovery. The following list shows
the sequence of events that must be done
in an effort to revive a CO victim:
Evacuate, Ventilate, Investigate, Take
Corrective Action
Move the person to fresh air
Administer oxygen if available
Contact medical help
If the victim is not breathing, perform
arti
fi cial respiration per approved CPR
procedures until medical help arrives and
takes over. Prompt action can make the
difference between life and death.
Ventilate area
Investigate the source of CO and take
corrective actions.
HOW DOES CARBON MONOXIDE
ENTER YOUR BOAT?
Any device that burns fuel creates carbon
monoxide. For example, a propane cooktop
or a space heater are both potential sources
for CO. But the most serious danger comes
from the gasoline engines and generators
aboard your own and neighboring boats.
There are four basic ways that CO from a
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running engine or generator can enter your
boat:
The “station wagon effect” results from the
aerodynamics of deck cabins and
fl ying
bridges. With the boat under way, the air
fl ow over the top forms a low pressure area
behind the cabin or transom which can suck
exhaust gasses into the cockpit and the
cabin. Inef
fi cient trim angles also can cause
the station wagon effect.
Obstructions are principally a problem when
boats are rafted together or tied to a dock
or seawall. Against an obstruction, exhaust
gasses which normally dissipate may in-
stead be directed back to your boat. Be-
ware of open windows, hatches, doors and
the location of the engine intake. Exhaust
contains particularly high concentrations of
CO when an engine is cold; so to protect
yourself and your neighbors, minimize the
time spent getting underway. Pay particular
attention to potential obstructions when run-
ning a generator for long periods.
In fi ltration of CO from a neighbor’s exhaust
can be a problem aboard any boat at any
time. In
fi ltration can happen any time your
neighbors are running a generator or engine,
even when they are many slips away.
Leaks in your own exhaust system from
the engines or generator can allow harmful
levels of CO to accumulate at a surprising
rate. Good maintenance practices are criti-
cal to avoid this.
There are many variables that combine to
affect the accumulation of carbon monoxide.
Some of these variables are: the presence of
weather enclosures and covers, boat layout
and con
fi guration, location of ports, hatches,
windows, doors, and vents, proximity and
types of structures and other boats, wind