What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from electrical generators after Hurricane Ike, focusing on patients treated or triaged at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center.
What They Found
They treated or triaged 37 individuals for carbon monoxide poisoning from electrical generators in 13 incidents within 36 hours of Hurricane Ike's landfall. Notably, 54% (20 of 37) of patients were under 18 years old, and one child died; among incidents where the reason was known, 5 (accounting for 75% of pediatric cases) involved powering video games or televisions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients should be aware of the severe risks of carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, especially during power outages. Always use generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas, far from windows and doors, and never for non-essential entertainment like video games indoors.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Texas after Hurricane Ike.
Study Limitations
The study is a retrospective review of cases from a single hospital system in a specific geographic area, limiting generalizability.