It’s shocking to find out how many people get killed by carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning each year. According to the American Council on Science and Health, carbon monoxide poisoning is the fourth-largest cause of death in the United States. Due to accidental CO2 poisoning, 50,000 individuals end up in the ER, and more than 400 patients die annually in the country.
Although CO2 is highly hazardous, it is preventable by following state laws and taking precautions. If you or someone you know got serious injuries due to CO2 or carbon monoxide poisoning due to someone else’s negligence, contact Ehline Law and our Los Angeles carbon dioxide poisoning lawyers today for a free case evaluation.
What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Considered a toxic gas, carbon monoxide poisoning takes place when an individual inhales large quantities of carbon monoxide instead of breathing in oxygen. The poisoning from it results from too many carbon monoxide particles in the bloodstream, more than oxygen levels, which can affect the normal functioning of the human body.
A car accident, burning wood, using gas boilers, open fires, water heaters, and other appliances are possible sources of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the home. Any faulty equipment can leak, which can spread toxic gas in the house.
What’s dangerous is that this type of gas does not emit any smell making it very difficult to detect by unsuspecting victims. It leads to slow CO2 poisoning if there is no proper ventilation or carbon monoxide detector in the home.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Since it can be difficult to detect the gas, victims must take note of their health conditions while nearby a gas leak.
Some of the carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms include:
- Breathing problems
- Headache
- Blurriness
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
- And more.
Many carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide victims reported memory problems and the inability to walk properly after inhaling copious amounts of the toxic gas too.
What is Carbon Dioxide Poisoning?
Unlike CO poisoning, CO2 poisoning or carbon dioxide poisoning happens when too much CO2 gets trapped near ground level as they are denser than air. Upon breathing in tight or small spaces, this buildup can get into the lungs and the bloodstream of the victim, resulting in CO2 poisoning. Within a minute of breathing CO2, victims can start feeling unconscious and face respiratory arrest. Those facing CO2 poisoning must get access to fresh oxygen, and if you’re losing consciousness or are not feeling well due to CO2 poisoning, contact 911 immediately.
How do Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Affect the Victim?
Treating carbon monoxide poisoning and helping victims recover from any damages is complicated. As the CO/CO2 enters a victim’s bloodstream, it starts to replace the oxygen particles. This is why gas is a slow poison. The CO causes damage to the red blood cells slowing down their activities while delivering tissue damage. This can result in slow brain damage and very severe cases, death.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cases?
Since January is the coldest in many areas in the state, many people stay close to heating appliances to stay warm, resulting in heightened carbon monoxide exposure. However, this is the month where CO poisoning cases touch an all-time high.
Here are a few tips that you can follow to prevent any carbon monoxide cases in your household:
- Have a professional visit your home before winter to check all heating appliances for any carbon monoxide leaks
- Install CO detectors to detect any in the case of a carbon monoxide leak
- Do not use outdoor camping equipment like generators, grills, and more inside your home
- Do not let your vehicle idle inside your garage
- Avoid using gas ovens to heat your home during winter.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors as Preventable Measures
In the state of California in 2010, a law (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010) got unanimous approval to help minimize or stop CO poisoning. Since then, property owners must have carbon monoxide detectors in apartments, hotels, houses, or condominiums where there are fossil fuel-burning heaters, boilers, and other appliances. This puts the duty of care on the property owners to provide the right safety equipment for those residing.
If you’re renting accommodation without CO detectors resulting in injuries to you, contact us immediately to file a carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit against the negligent property owner.
Who Are More Prone to CO2 and CO Poisoning?
Although with a constant supply of these toxic gases entering our systems, any person can get affected by it, a few groups of people are more affected than others.
Unborn babies, children, and the elderly are at risk of poisoning from these toxic gases. Children breathe in more air, while the elderly have weaker immune systems, which puts them at a higher risk of poisoning than other groups.
Why Should You Reach Out to a Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer?
To file a lawsuit against the relevant parties responsible for the damage, you need to prove that the other party had a duty of care. After establishing the duty of care, you need to prove the negligence of the party or the breach of that duty of care.
Having qualified Los Angeles carbon dioxide lawyers on your case can prove the two most important elements for an effective lawsuit. A qualified lawyer can also help determine the value of claims and prove the damages done by the negligent party due to their actions.
Treating carbon dioxide can lead to hefty medical bills. You should not shoulder the damages done by another party, as an experienced lawyer can help recover compensation and hold the parties accountable for their actions.
Ehline Law is a leading personal injury law firm in California, helping protect victims’ rights and ensuring they have the best legal representation. Our proven track record is a testament to the stellar attorney-client relationship we maintain.
Our Los Angeles carbon dioxide lawyers can help determine your claims, file a lawsuit, and deal with the insurers to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation and get legal advice today!
Citations
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/copoisoning/index.html#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20symptoms%20of,CO%20poisoning%20is%20entirely%20preventable
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carbon-monoxide/symptoms-causes/syc-20370642
