Journal ArticleDOI
Routine carbon monoxide screening by emergency medical technicians.
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TLDR
Emergency medical services personnel can perform routine CO screening and detect occult elevations in CO levels during 911 responses, and public knowledge of CO poisoning is limited and the use of home CO detectors is rare in this study population.Abstract:
Residential carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning represents a significant cause of unintentional morbidity and mortality in the United States. Screening by fire departments and utility companies is usually limited to instances in which there are symptoms of CO poisoning or there is activation of a home CO detector. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether emergency medical services (EMS) personnel can perform routine CO screening during 911 calls. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in an urban EMS system using emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to screen for elevated CO levels during emergency responses. The EMTs carried hand-held CO meters that detect as little as one part per million of CO. Readings were taken at the patient's side during indoor patient contacts. If time allowed, a brief questionnaire was then administered to patients or by-standers concerning knowledge about CO poisoning, type of household heating system, and presence of home CO detectors. RESULTS: In a three-month convenience sample of emergency responses, there were 264 residential CO readings obtained. There were nine (3.4%) positive residential readings, all with chief complaints believed to be unrelated to CO toxicity. Two hundred twelve surveys were completed during these emergency responses, with 145 of 212 (68%) participants familiar with the term "carbon monoxide poisoning." Only 54 of 145 (37%) participants could name any signs or symptoms of CO poisoning. Of those surveyed, 133 of 212 (63%) participants reported an oil- or gas-powered heating system in their residence. Carbon monoxide detectors were absent in 185 of 212 (87%) residences, including all domiciles in which a positive CO reading was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency medical services personnel can perform routine CO screening and detect occult elevations in CO levels during 911 responses. Public knowledge of CO poisoning is limited and the use of home CO detectors is rare in this study population. Language: enread more
Citations
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The Formation of the Emergency Medical Services System
TL;DR: Current emergency medical services researchers, policy advocates, and administrators must modify the system into one that provides uniformly high-quality acute care to all patients, improves the overall public health through injury control and disease prevention programs, participates as a full partner in disease surveillance, and is prepared to address new community needs of all types.
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Carbon monoxide poisoning: undetected by both patients and their doctors
Adam Harper,James Croft-Baker +1 more
TL;DR: The issues associated with carbon monoxide poisoning are reviewed including pointers to early diagnosis and discussion of pathophysiology and management.
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Which extended paramedic skills are making an impact in emergency care and can be related to the UK paramedic system? A systematic review of the literature
TL;DR: This systematic literature review identifies many viable extra skills for paramedics but the evidence is not strong enough to guide policy and should be used to guide future research, particularly into paramedic care for elderly people.
Journal ArticleDOI
Cardiovascular Abnormalities in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
Jalaj Garg,Parasuram Krishnamoorthy,Chandrasekar Palaniswamy,Sahil Khera,Hasan Ahmad,Diwakar Jain,Wilbert S. Aronow,William H. Frishman +7 more
TL;DR: This work presents a comprehensive review of literature on cardiovascular manifestations of CO poisoning and proposes a diagnostic algorithm for managing patients with CO poisoning.
Journal ArticleDOI
An emergency medical services program to promote the health of older adults.
Manish N. Shah,Lindsay Clarkson,E. Brooke Lerner,Rollin J. Fairbanks,Robert McCann,Sandra M. Schneider +5 more
TL;DR: To evaluate the feasibility and effect of an emergency medical services (EMS) program that screened, educated, and referred older adults with unmet needs.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Armin Ernst,Joseph D. Zibrak +1 more
TL;DR: Carbon monoxide intoxication continues to be one of the most common causes of morbidity due to poisoning in the United States as discussed by the authors, and it may be intentional or accidental, and exposure may be lethal.
Journal ArticleDOI
Unintentional carbon monoxide-related deaths in the United States, 1979 through 1988.
Nathaniel Cobb,Ruth A. Etzel +1 more
TL;DR: The rate of unintentional death from carbon monoxide poisoning is decreasing, and may be attributable to improvements in automobile pollution control systems and improved safety of cooking and heating appliances.
Journal ArticleDOI
Carbon monoxide poisoning: a review for clinicians
Joseph Varon,Joseph Varon,Paul E. Marik,Robert E. Fromm,Robert E. Fromm,Alfredo Gueler,Alfredo Gueler +6 more
TL;DR: The mainstay of therapy for CO poisoning is supplemental oxygen, ventilatory support, and monitoring for cardiac dysrhythmias.
Journal ArticleDOI
Deaths From Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Potential for Prevention With Carbon Monoxide Detectors
TL;DR: The high proportion of decedents with alcohol in their blood indicates that effective public health campaigns must address the role of alcohol in CO poisoning deaths.
Journal ArticleDOI
Subacute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Another Great Imitator
Ted W. Grace,Frederic W. Platt +1 more
TL;DR: The illnesses of two patients with characteristic symptoms of subacute carbon monoxide poisoning were misdiagnosed initially and resulted in the needless exposure of one patient and two relatives to a toxic environment.
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