One man is dead after being found inside a home with “extremely high” carbon monoxide levels.
At around 3:50 p.m. on Oct. 28, Westlock RCMP responded to a residence about eight kilometres east of Pickardville.
When they arrived, Westlock EMS were on scene, having already removed a deceased 57-year-old man and his unconscious adult daughter from the building, said Staff Sgt. Bryan Clayton.
The daughter received on-site treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, and was transported to Westlock hospital for further treatment. She was released from hospital after recovering from the incident.
Her father was transported to the Provincial Medical Examiner’s office in Edmonton for an autopsy.
The Westlock County fire department also responded to the scene, and during their examination of the residence they found carbon monoxide levels to be well above what is considered safe. However, Clayton was not sure what the carbon monoxide concentration was in the house. Carbon monoxide concentrations at or above 800 parts per million (ppm) can lead to dizziness, nausea and convulsions within 45 minutes, and those of at least 1,600 ppm can lead to death in two hours or less. The higher the concentration, the faster symptoms appear and the quicker unconsciousness and death are likely to occur.
Firefighters looking through the house determined the building had propane fireplaces and other appliances. Once the propane was shut off, the residence was aired out and the carbon monoxide levels dropped back to a safe level.
Clayton explained the deceased man’s daughter had come to the house to check in on him. When she arrived, she found him unconscious and dialed 911 for EMS assistance.
By the time EMS arrived, paramedics found the daughter unconscious, he said. He was unaware how much time had passed from when the daughter called 911 and when the paramedics arrived.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless and colourless gas. It is particularly dangerous because it is similar in molecular size and weight to oxygen, and as such is readily taken up by red blood cells. However, because it is not oxygen, it essentially suffocates the red blood cells and can drastically reduce the oxygen content in a person’s blood stream.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness and with enough exposure or high enough concentrations, death.
The gas is produced through incomplete combustion. Common emitters include furnaces, heaters and car engines.
