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Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in a Lay Responder

Description

A member of the family or community who encounters a person overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning needs to balance the need to rescue and the need to avoid becoming another victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Since carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless there are often few clues to its presence.

 


Variables:

(1) number of people affected

(2) presence of fire or other hazard

(3) time to arrival of first responders

(4) ability to communicate with poison control center

(5) lay responder's awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning

(6) difficulty in removing a victim (obesity, etc)

 

The most important principle is that the responder should observe measures for self-protection.

 

In some cases it may be possible to quickly open doors and windows and to allow the area to become ventilated.

 

As long as the lay responder can protect her/him self then they can try to remove the victim from the area and to then administer first aid.


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