Sources of Carbon Monoxide:
Car exhausts
Gas appliances
Gas fires
Faulty central heating systems
House fires
Wood burning stoves
Propane-fuelled equipment
Gasoline powered tools
Fumes from cleaning fluids and paint removers that contain methylene chloride as this chemical is converted to carbon monoxide when it is inhaled.
Carbon monoxide is significantly toxic to all forms of aerobic life as it easily absorbed through the lungs. When we breathe normally oxygen binds to a molecule in the blood called haemoglobin which transports it around the body to the tissues were it is deposited and used up. However haemoglobin has a affinity, or attraction, 230 times greater to carbon monoxide than oxygen. This means that if carbon monoxide is present then it will bind to the haemoglobin molecules instead of the oxygen, so the oxygen cannot be transported around the body. When carbon monoxide binds with haemoglobin it forms a product called carboxyhaemoglobin which affects the blood vessels and can cause them to leak and lead to swelling. The body is effectively starved of oxygen and the symptoms develop in the organs most dependent on oxygen: the heart and the central nervous system.
Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous to unborn babies as foetal haemoglobin has a 10-15% higher affinity for carbon monoxide than adult haemoglobin. This is because the foetus depends on the mother for its oxygen supply and in order to get that supply its blood must have a higher affinity for oxygen than the mothers, however as you can see in the case of carbon monoxide this can be a fatal difference.
Symptoms:
Mild symptoms can often be mistaken for a viral cold or flu infection. This can be a deadly mistake because the advice for treatment of a cold or flu is to stay at home and turn up the heating. If it turns out to be carbon monoxide poisoning this is the last thing you should do. However some of the warning signs that you may have carbon monoxide poisoning as opposed to flu are:
Other people in similar situations, such as either your work place or your home, have the same symptoms.
Symptoms tend to disappear if you leave a certain place, such as either your home or your work place.
Symptoms tend to be seasonal, (as you normally switch your heating on in the winter and off for the summer)
Unlike flu it doesn’t cause a high temperature
To put these symptoms into perspective the natural background level of carbon monoxide is 0.1ppm, while in homes the average level is 0.5-5ppm. In a chimney of a home wood fire the level would be around 500ppm while an undiluted, warm car exhaust without a catalytic converter it is around 7000ppm.
After acute poisoning severe neurological symptoms can occur in up to 50% of patients. These can present themselves anywhere between 2 and 40 days after the event. These include:
Difficulty with higher intellectual function
Problems with short term memory
Dementia
Amnesia
Psychosis
Cortical blindness
Irritability
Gait disturbance
Speech disturbance
Depression
Usually once the victim has been removed from the source then the symptoms should clear unless they have been exposed to severe, acute poisoning.
Treatment:
The victim should be removed from the source of the poisoning and given basic life support if that is necessary. They should be treated with 100% of high-flow oxygen by a nonrebreather reservoir oxygen mask and transported to hospital. Oxygen hastens the dissociation of carbon monoxide from the haemoglobin so that the tissue can be oxygenated. Between 10-15% of cases suffer from long-term problems.
Prevention:
Carbon monoxide can be prevented from causing fatal injuries by having regular checks on gas appliances and heating systems. Chimneys and flues should also be maintained to prevent damages or blockages that might prevent carbon monoxide being released into the atmosphere. Cars, motorbikes and lawnmowers should never be used in closed garages otherwise carbon monoxide can build up in the enclosed space. Carbon monoxide alarms can be fitted, which are similar to smoke alarms, and detect high levels of carbon monoxide in the surroundings.
UK Swimming Pool Regulations
Anyone who operates a swimming pool must have a licence approved by the authorities. It is their responsibility to maintain the swimming pool, any walkways, the changing rooms and any other furnishings, equipment or facilities, in good repair and sanitary conditions, including having a residual disinfectant in use at all times.
Good emergency procedures for preventing likely swimming pool accidents must be in place and staff must be made aware of them.
Potential accidents in the swimming pool may be caused by:
Overcrowding and disorderly behaviour
Poor water clarity
Vomit or faecal contamination
Staff should also know how to act in the event of:
Serious injury to a pool user
Discovery of a casualty
Chemical discharge
Fire
Signs for emergency procedures in the event of a swimming pool accident on holiday must be clearly visible along with the appropriate emergency contact numbers.
First Aid
The swimming pool must have enough space for first aid administration as well as a fully stocked first aid box, other first aid equipment and an emergency telephone in case of a swimming pool accident. As well as first aid equipment a life buoy and a rescue pole must be provided that can be used by any person without them having to enter the pool.
Life Guards
Life guards should be provided, but they must be of the required standard: they must be sixteen or over, hold a valid bronze medallion certificate and a current Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance or Life Saving Society Aquatic Emergency Care certificate as well as a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation C-level certificate.
There must be at least one life guard on duty when there are up to 50 swimmers in the pool, two lifeguards for between 50-100 swimmers. For every additional hundred people there must be an extra life guard.
Pool Depth Markers
For the safety of pool users the depth of the pool must be marked on the pool decks and, if possible, on the pool walls. The water must be clear enough to see the pattern of any drains or outlets at the deepest point.
Signs
All appropriate signs must be displayed clearly at different places around the pool facilities. Prohibitive signs, such as ‘no running’, should be on a red background with white lettering. Cautions, such as ‘slippery surface’, should be yellow with black lettering while mandatory signs should be blue with white lettering. Finally first aid signs marking first aid points should be green with white lettering.
Going abroad
While swimming pools in the UK have the strict regulations outlined above to ensure the safety of the public and prevent swimming pool accidents on holiday it is not safe to assume that when you go on holiday the same standards apply. Many countries either do not have any regulations or the standards required by the regulations are lower and not necessarily enforced.
France and Spain however, now have a law that all pools, both public and private, must have a pool alarm. Since 2006 all new pool installations in France must be fitted with infant security protection in the form of at least one of the following:
A fence that surrounds the pool, forming a physical barrier
A security cover for when the pool is not in use
A pool house or shelter to cover the whole pool
A perimeter alarm to detect when people cross a certain line towards the pool
An immersion alarm which can detect pressure changes in the pool such as when a person has entered it
Preventing Accidents in the Swimming Pool
Hazards to look out for:
Although the managers or owners of a pool complex should be responsible for the safety and maintenance of their facilities it is always sensible to check them yourself to ensure that they are safe for you and your family to enjoy.
The area surrounding a pool is often slippery and although this cannot be avoided you must be aware of the fact that the slippery surface makes falls and slips much more likely. You should be careful when you are around the pool and ensure that your children do not run or play at the side of the pool to avoid a swimming pool accident.
There are a number of accidents in swimming pools each year from people diving into water and misjudging the depth. It is vital that you don’t jump into any body of unknown water, always enter slowly and feet first and take note of any depth markings on the pool.
Drains and outlets may be the cause of serious or fatal swimming pool accidents. The risk of becoming trapped in a drain due to a malfunctioning pump or broken cover is very real. Also hair can sometimes be caught in pumps so ensure you tie it up.
Pools are often a source of bacteria as their temperature and the presence of water makes them an ideal place for many micro-organisms. To avoid catching any waterborne illnesses make sure you shower before and after entering the pool and do not swim if it looks unclean.
Commonsense and advice:
Even if a pool abides by all the rules and regulations set down swimming pool accidents can still happen. However you and your family can help reduce this risk by using a little commonsense and advice.
On arrival at your hotel or holiday destination inspect the area so you know exactly where the pool is and what sort of safety measures are around to restrict access.
Children are attracted to water and the pool will be one of the first places they will want to go. It is not uncommon for a swimming pool accident to happen because children have gone off to the pool while the parents are still unpacking.
When you inspect the pool take note of depth markings and the position of drains and outlets so you know which areas to avoid.
Abide by any rules that have been set out by the swimming pool managers: they are there for a reason!
Know your own family’s ability; set your own rules for your family based on age and ability e.g. not swimming alone or going out of their depth. If you have children it is vital that you supervise them at all times and if there are two of you split the supervision so that you can take a break every now and then to enjoy the pool as well.
It is important that nobody goes out of their depth either in a swimming pool, a lake or the sea. If you are at the beach avoid going near rocks or boats in the sea. Most countries follow a flag system with red for danger, yellow for caution and green for ‘safe to swim’, follow these guidelines and only swim when the green flag shows if you think the conditions are safe. You shouldn’t use lilos or inflatables in the sea as they are easily blown out to sea or they could pop.
Never mix alcohol with swimming or supervising as it impairs your judgement and if something does happen you may not react in time or be able to perform the necessary actions to help the casualty.
If you follow these four simple rules you should enjoy a safe, enjoyable holiday:
Never swim alone
Don’t dive into unknown bodies of water
Don’t push, or jump on, others
Know where to get help in case of emergencies
Making a claim for a swimming pool accident on holiday
If you, or a member of your family, have a swimming pool accident on holiday you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim if it was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Talking to a solicitor with experience in handling holiday claims as soon as you return home is worthwhile. Macks Solicitors have successfully recovered many thousands of pounds in compensation for clients who have had their holidays spoilt by a swimming pool accident on holiday.
The skilled solicitors at this firm work on a No Win No Fee basis. This ensures that anyone who has had a swimming pool accident will have access to expert legal advice at no cost to themselves. We also guarantee that when compensation has been settled our clients keep all of the compensation they are awarded and all our costs are recovered from the other party.
