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1.11
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
CARBON MONOXIDE
1. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless
gas that is a natural by-product of internal combustion.
It is commonly referred to as CO.
2. CO weighs about the same as air so it does not rise or
fall like some other gases, but will distribute itself
throughout the space.
HOW A PERSON IS AFFECTED BY CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon monoxide is absorbed by the lungs and reacts with
blood hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, which
reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The
result is a lack of oxygen for the tissues with the subsequent
tissue death and, if prolonged, death of the individual.
EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon monoxide in high concentrations can be fatal in a
matter of minutes. Lower concentrations must not be
ignored because the effects of exposure to CO are cumu-
lative and can be just as lethal over time.
SYMPTOMS
Initial reactions to CO poisoning can easily be mistaken for
sea sickness. One or more of the following symptoms can
signal the adverse effect of CO accumulation:
1. Watering and itchy eyes
2. Flushed appearance
3. Throbbing temples
4. Inattentiveness
5. Inability to think coherently
6. Ringing in the ears
7. Tightness across the chest
8. Headache
9. Drowsiness
10. Incoherence
11. Nausea
12. Dizziness
13. Fatigue
14. Vomiting
15. Collapse
16. Convulsions
NOTE: The order of the above list is generally the
sequence of appearance of symptoms. However, the order
of appearance may change for different people.
TREATMENT (Evacuate, Ventilate, Investigate, Take
Corrective Action)
If you suspect CO poisoning, immediately take the follow-
ing steps:
1. Move the person to fresh air.
2. Administer oxygen if available.
3. Contact Medical help.
4. If the victim is not breathing, perform artificial respira-
tion per approved CPR procedures until medical help
arrives and takes over.
5. Ventilate area.
6. Investigate source of CO and take corrective action.
Prompt action can make the difference between life
and death.
INSPECTION
Look and listen for leaks in the exhaust systems of both
the generator and propulsion engine(s). Look for discol-
1.11
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
CARBON MONOXIDE
1.
Carbon monoxide is a color
less, odor
less and tasteless
gas that is a natural b
y-product of internal comb
ustion.
It is commonly referred to as CO
.
2.
COw
eighs about the same as air so it does not rise or
fall lik
e some other gases, b
ut will distrib
ute itself
throughout the space.
HOW A PERSON IS AFFECTED BY CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon monoxide is absorbed b
y the lungs and reacts with
blood hemoglobin to f
orm carbo
xyhemoglobin, which
reduces the oxygen carr
ying capacity of the blood. The
result is a lack of o
xygen for the tissues with the subsequent
tissue death and, if pr
olonged, death of the individual
.
EFFECTS OF CARBON MONOXIDE
Carbon monoxide in high concentr
ations can be fatal in a
matter of minutes
. Low
er concentrations m
ust not be
ignored because the effects of e
xposure to CO are cumu-
lative and can be just as lethal o
ver time
.
SYMPTOMS
Initial reactions to CO poisoning can easily be mistaken f
or
sea sickness
. One or more of the follo
wing symptoms can
signal the adverse eff
ect of CO accumulation:
1.
Water
ing and itchy e
yes
2.
Flushed appearance
3.
Throbbing temples
4.
Inattentiveness
5.
Inability to think coherently
6.
Ringing in the ears
7.
Tightness across the chest
8.
Headache
9.
Drowsiness
10.Incoherence
11.Nausea
12.Dizziness
13.F
atigue
14.V
omiting
15.Collapse
16.Con
vulsions
NOTE:
The order of the abov
e list is generally the
sequence of appearance of symptoms
. How
ever
, the order
of appearance ma
y change for diff
erent people.
TREATMENT (Evacuate, V
entilate, Investigate, T ake
Corrective Action)
If you suspect CO poisoning, immediately tak
e the follo
w-
ing steps:
1.
Move the person to fresh air
.
2.
Administer oxygen if a
vailab
le.
3.
Contact Medical help.
4.
If the victim is not breathing, perfor
m artificial respir
a-
tion per approv
ed CPR procedures until medical help
arriv
es and takes o
ver
.
5.
Ventilate area.
6.
Investigate source of CO and tak
e corrective action.
Prompt action can make the diff
erence between life
and death.
INSPECTION
Look and listen for leaks in the e
xhaust systems of both
the generator and propulsion engine(s). Look f
or discol-