Beating the silent killer

Nassau County Police Officer Michael Frank rescued a woman and her 8-year-old son from their Valley Stream home that was filling with carbon monoxide. Frank responded to the home early that morning, on March 7, to find the mother disoriented and lethargic before she fainted at his feet.

This incident occurred after a new law was implemented in New York State last month that requires all residences, including single and double family homes and apartments, to have a carbon monoxide detector.

In Long Beach, Fire Commissioner Scott Kemins said the department responds to an average of six carbon monoxide-related calls per week.

“Most of the time it’s unfounded,” said Kemins, adding that often the alarm is malfunctioning or has a low battery.

Kemins said typical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning closely resemble those of the flu. Victims often feel tired, confused and nauseous before eventually slipping into unconsciousness. As carbon monoxide has no smell or taste and is not highly flammable it has been dubbed the silent killer.

Suffering from severe carbon monoxide poisoning, the Valley Stream residents were taken to Nassau University Medical Center and treated within the hospital’s hyperbaric chamber. Donna Hangan, the hyperbaric coordinator at NUMC, said the hospital gets about 30 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning per year. “When patients come here, we try to get them into the chamber as quickly as possible,” Hangan said.

Hangan explained that carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, which is the substance in the blood that carries oxygen throughout the body. The pressurized chamber is pumped full with 100 percent oxygen, which clears the hemoglobin of the carbon monoxide. Hangan said that within 18 minutes of treatment, patients start feeling better.

While Hangan said there has been a slight decline in the number of carbon monoxide related cases treated at the hospital, she admitted that overall most cases occur in homes of those with lower incomes.

The Elmont Fire Department discovered the cause of the Valley Stream case to be a poorly ventilated gasoline powered generator that was being used for electricity after the homeowner lost her job in February.

Kemins said carbon monoxide poisoning is largely preventable with common sense and regular maintenance. Water heaters, gas stoves and fireplaces should been cleaned regularly to avoid buildup that could lead to a carbon monoxide leak. Kemins said sometimes people will turn their cars or leave the car running with the garage doors closed.

Kemins, who is also the city’s buildings commissioner, said new buildings and existing buildings that undergo major renovation must have a carbon monoxide detector hardwired into the home. Without an alarm, Kemins said his office will not approve any final paperwork. “We’re not going to sign that permit until we see a carbon monoxide alarm,” he said.

Homeowners can purchase alarms that are battery operated or can be plugged into the wall, but Kemins stressed that alarms must be replaced every five to seven years as the sensor goes bad.“In today’s day and age, no matter who you are,” said Kemins, “You should have one.”

Andrew Hackmack contributed to this story. Comments about it? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.