I found CO in tanks

[Sam Miller III]

The year was 1960...

The tribe had made a dive trip deep in to Baja Califirbna Mexico using WW11 surplus 4 X 4 1940s ambulances and had returned to Ensenada to camp prior to crossing the border.

Some went into "town' for shopping and a few drinks. Several remained behind at camp to refill all the Lungs (aka SCUBA tanks) from the WW11 Rix compressor located behind the seat in one of the ambulances and powered by a PTO from the engine. All precautions were taken to insure clean air, the engine exhaust was piped through 10 foot pipe to insure only clean off shore air was compressed in to the lungs.

Some time during the filling sessions the air direction changed to on shore sucking contaminated exhaust air into one members twin 70s,

A week later Friday June 4th, 1960 was the date the tribe had scheduled the Veleron, the largest boat in the San Pedro fleet to travel to Catalina Island to salvage a 7000 pound anchor resting off Abalone point at Catalina island.
(The Veleron had been the movie star James Cagney's private boat prior to being converted to a dive charter boat by Jack Kirk-- The boat ended its life in one of the many boats in Hong Kong harbor)

We all had our assignments; toss the 55 gallon metal barrels over the side fill with water and guide down to and secure to the anchor.

Two members were to dive to 125 and 150 to secure marker buoys on the anchor chain for ease of locating in future explorations

All wen well all returned to the boat in anticipation of the lifting to the huge anchor to the surface -- all except the diver who was to go to 150 feet after a few anxious moments it was determined he was not going to surface and preparations were made to search and recover his body which was located at 210 feet mouth piece in place, floating a few feet above the bottom as if he was asleep

Later it was discovered his twin 70s were saturated with carbon monoxide from the filling a week previous

It can and will happen

The victim was a graduate of the US Naval academy had severed in the Korean war, was an LA co UW Instructor, the first and only to perish in the water-- And I telephoned his parents to inform them of his passing

Sam Miller, 111

 

[BoltSnap]

Later it was discovered his twin 70s were saturated with carbon monoxide from the filling a week previous

How were you able to determine that it was CO present that killed him? How did you test for CO presence in 1960?

 

[Sam Miller III]

I don't know what was the process - but the remaining air his tanks were analyzed the word was passed that all who had the tanks filled in Ensenada to immediately drain them --which we all did.

The Rix compressor was WW 11 surplus from naval boat which had been modified for filling tanks and was lubricated with soap --High flash point oil had not been introduced - CO was a constant problem

As I recall that horrible tragedy almost 60 years ago I drained all my tanks and had then filled a a local dive shop

SDM

 

[tbone1004]

How were you able to determine that it was CO present that killed him? How did you test for CO presence in 1960?

the color changing pads date back to the 1920's

 

[kelemvor]

Regarding CO testing at home

Many (but not all) smoke detectors also detect CO. You have to pay a little more (really, only a little). Home Depot (or your favorite big box store) sells standalone CO monitors for US $20 and combo Smoke/CO for $25.

I got a CO alarm when I bought a house with an attached garage.

 

[Steve_C]

We now have CO detectors. Mother in Law was living with us in house while she was recuperating from surgery. She was in house all day and night. Wife and I were gone a lot working. Also we slept upstairs and she slept downstairs. She began complaining of headaches. Had the furnace checked and there was a cracked heat exchanger.

Getting a CO detector is a lot less hassle than having your mother in law (at least mine) live with you.

 

[Johnoly]

....That said, there have been fatalities, and there is the open question of the extent to which CO-contaminated breathing gas has contributed to fatalities previously categorized as "medical event." The data is thin.
.....

Great quote ! Everyone ignores the partial pressure effects of CO at depth & time.

There is no peer reviewed, accepted computer algorithm for CO at varying water depths and varying dive times.

There are surface studies galore, but not underwater with work of breathing factored in. This is because you would have to kill some of your test subjects to get the data set since CO doesn't release easily from hemoglobin.

 

[Neilwood]

It is law here that if you are in a tenanted flat with or are fitting a gas burning appliance such as a boiler, fire, stove etc that a mains powered (battery backup) CO detector be fitted.

Not sure what the detection level is of the top of my head though.

 

[Doc Harry]

I've analyzed a lot of dive tanks for CO over the years, and not once have I ever found anything besides 0 ppm CO.

If I ever found anything other than zero, then I'd be concerned about the quality of air being produced by that compressor, and I certainly wouldn't breathe that gas at depth. Like Johnoly said, what's a safe concentration of CO at pressure???

 

[KevinNM]

It is law here that if you are in a tenanted flat with or are fitting a gas burning appliance such as a boiler, fire, stove etc that a mains powered (battery backup) CO detector be fitted.

Not sure what the detection level is of the top of my head though.

It’s higher than you want to be breathing at depth.