Unknown Tourist dead, Dive Master ill - Ambergris Caye, Belize

[rlh739]

I have another question, specifically about my new Forensics Detectors CO monitor.

In addition to using it to spot-check SCUBA tanks, can this same device be used for continuous monitoring, such as leaving it on overnight in a hotel room, or on in a transport vehicle, in case CO levels become elevated?

 

[dberry]

I have another question, specifically about my new Forensics Detectors CO monitor.

In addition to using it to spot-check SCUBA tanks, can this same device be used for continuous monitoring, such as leaving it on overnight in a hotel room, or on in a transport vehicle, in case CO levels become elevated?

I don't know your model, but the detector I use (see #126 in this thread) is will monitor CO levels and keep track of the maximum value. Check your manual.

 

[divezonescuba]

I had CO poisoning a few years ago in my house. The point that I would like to make is that aside of a slight headache, I became so mentally incapacitated that I couldn’t relate the CO detector alarm going off with the fact that there might actually be high CO present. I could not understand what the 200 meant on the display. Only after I opened the door to make the house less stuffy did I realize what was going on.

Experiencing something like that underwater would likely be unsurvivable.

 

[rlh739]

I had CO poisoning a few years ago in my house.

That must've been frightening. Did you ever determine what caused the elevated CO levels?

Our house is all-electric, no gas, no oil, no fireplace burning. I *think* we're safe from CO, but I keep a monitor in the bedroom nonetheless. For the low cost, it seems worth it.

 

[rlh739]

Check your manual.

Wow. Thanks. I never thought of doing that. {/sarc off}

In poking around the Forensics website, it seems -- although it's not explicitly stated -- that it can be used for continuous monitoring. It's waterproof, has a belt clip, 2-year battery life, etc., so I have little doubt it can be used in a harsh work environment as a continuous monitor. But neither the teeny, tiny manual or the website states this explicitly. Hence my question.

 

[divezonescuba]

That must've been frightening. Did you ever determine what caused the elevated CO levels?

Our house is all-electric, no gas, no oil, no fireplace burning. I *think* we're safe from CO, but I keep a monitor in the bedroom nonetheless. For the low cost, it seems worth it.

Gas fireplace operator error. I mistakenly assumed that since I couldn’t see that the flue was closed that it was open.

 

[DandyDon]

Our house is all-electric, no gas, no oil, no fireplace burning. I *think* we're safe from CO

Pretty much except that people die every year from cars left running in garages as difficult as it is to imagine that happening.

but I keep a monitor in the bedroom nonetheless. For the low cost, it seems worth it.

Yep. The directions probably said to test it weekly, but I hope you do test it monthly at least.

 

[divezonescuba]

We have people who run gas generators in their separate garages every hurricane. The CO has been known to travel between the garage and the house via the walkway cover that contains electrical cables and gas people in the house.

 

[Steelyeyes]

I had CO poisoning a few years ago in my house. The point that I would like to make is that aside of a slight headache, I became so mentally incapacitated that I couldn’t relate the CO detector alarm going off with the fact that there might actually be high CO present. I could not understand what the 200 meant on the display. Only after I opened the door to make the house less stuffy did I realize what was going on.

Experiencing something like that underwater would likely be unsurvivable.

I had a friend that had CO poisoning over a period of days. His kids were thankfully in school a lot of the time so weren't as affected but he was between jobs and home a lot. By the time it was diagnosed the damage was done. He lost enough brain function that his medical and pilot's licenses were revoked. It was a rental house they'd just moved into weeks before and had a faulty gas furnace.

 

[rlh739]

Well, this was interesting:

We recently took a trip on a yacht that sailed through Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands. Diving and snorkeling were involved, although it wasn't the main focus of the trip. We got a dive or two most days.

I took my new Forensics CO detector with me and asked to sniff the first tank. The DM and cruise director graciously agreed. We got a reading of 3.6ppm*, which fell within my limits (as previously discussed here), but certainly pointed to an issue with the compressor setup.

The DM and director jumped on the problem, changing the filters and lifting the hatch** leading to the compressor. The next batch of fills tested at 0.0, which continued over the next 15 hours of fills.

The DM was very enthusiastic and interested in what was going on. It seems that most people/operations are not monitoring CO levels. As a goodwill gesture, I donated the CO detector to the DM and have already replaced it with a new copy. I'll be taking that along on our next trip to Raja Ampat this February.

* I dove the 3.6ppm tank with no noticeable side effects. In my mind, I had set a limit of 5ppm.

** As I understand it, the compressor was all-electric and was not generating CO. I could be wrong... language differences. But, the crew had been leaving the hatch mostly closed during filling so as to cut down on noise discomfort for the passengers. That hatch was below the smokestack for the 198-foot vessel, which at times churned out a good deal of exhaust and carbon soot, and was on the aft dive deck in the burble of the boat. Our sense was that the exhaust was coming through the mostly-closed hatch and collecting near the compressor intake. Opening the hatch wide -- and dealing with the noise -- allowed the area to breathe. Along with the new filters, the problem was solved.