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Characterization of Carbon Monoxide Exposure During Hurricane Sandy and Subsequent Nor’easter

Characterization of Carbon Monoxide Exposure During Hurricane Sandy and Subsequent Nor’easter ABSTRACT Objective Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas produced by fossil fuel combustion. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy moved ashore near Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing widespread morbidity and mortality, $30 to $50 billion in economic damage, and 8.5 million households to be without power. The combination of power outages and unusually low temperatures led people to use alternate power sources, placing many at risk for CO exposure. Methods We examined Hurricane Sandy–related CO exposures from multiple perspectives to help identify risk factors and develop strategies to prevent future exposures. This report combined data from 3 separate sources (health departments, poison centers via the National Poison Data System, and state and local public information officers). Results Results indicated that the number of CO exposures in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was significantly greater than in previous years. The persons affected were mostly females and those in younger age categories and, despite messaging, most CO exposures occurred from improper generator use. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the continued importance of CO-related communication and ongoing surveillance of CO exposures to support public health response and prevention during and after disasters. Additionally, regional poison centers can be a critical resource for potential on-site management, public health promotion, and disaster-related CO exposure surveillance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:562–567) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Cambridge University Press

Characterization of Carbon Monoxide Exposure During Hurricane Sandy and Subsequent Nor’easter

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 (5): 6 – Apr 25, 2017
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Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 
ISSN
1938-744X
eISSN
1935-7893
DOI
10.1017/dmp.2016.203
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas produced by fossil fuel combustion. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy moved ashore near Atlantic City, New Jersey, causing widespread morbidity and mortality, $30 to $50 billion in economic damage, and 8.5 million households to be without power. The combination of power outages and unusually low temperatures led people to use alternate power sources, placing many at risk for CO exposure. Methods We examined Hurricane Sandy–related CO exposures from multiple perspectives to help identify risk factors and develop strategies to prevent future exposures. This report combined data from 3 separate sources (health departments, poison centers via the National Poison Data System, and state and local public information officers). Results Results indicated that the number of CO exposures in the wake of Hurricane Sandy was significantly greater than in previous years. The persons affected were mostly females and those in younger age categories and, despite messaging, most CO exposures occurred from improper generator use. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the continued importance of CO-related communication and ongoing surveillance of CO exposures to support public health response and prevention during and after disasters. Additionally, regional poison centers can be a critical resource for potential on-site management, public health promotion, and disaster-related CO exposure surveillance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:562–567)

Journal

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness – Cambridge University Press

Published: Apr 25, 2017

Keywords: disaster; carbon monoxide; hurricane

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