CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING AMONG RECREATIONAL BOATERS

Objective.-To describe the case characteristics of a series of patient s poisoned with carbon monoxide (CO) while boating for recreation. Des ign.-Cases of patients referred for treatment of CO poisoning with hyp erbaric oxygen were reviewed. Those cases that occurred during recreat ional boating were selected for analysis. Setting.-A private, urban, t ertiary care center studied from July 1984 to June 1994. Patients.-Thi rty-nine patients ranging in age from 6 months to 69 years who were po isoned in 27 separate incidents. Main Outcome Measures.-Characteristic s of the poisoning incidents were assessed at initial patient presenta tion, immediately following treatment, and with follow-up telephone in terviews. Results.-Of 512 patients treated for acute unintentional CO poisoning, 39 cases (8%) occurred in 27 incidents related to recreatio nal boating activities. Individuals typically lost consciousness as a result of the poisoning. Most cases occurred aboard a boat that was ol der than 10 years, had an enclosable cabin, was longer than 22 feet, w as powered by a gasoline engine, and was without a CO detector on boar d. Conclusions.-Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious hazard associat ed with recreational boating. The installation of CO detectors aboard boat types typically associated with this syndrome st-could be strongl y encouraged.