11 Hospitalized in Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hospitalizes Eleven

Eleven people were hospitalized on Friday, April 19, 2019 in the Yonkers carbon monoxide poisoning at an apartment building near Coyle Place and McLean Avenue that involved two families including children. Only a dad coming home from work when he did averted a worse tragedy.

The 11 taken to the hospital likely narrowly survived as the ambient air levels of carbon monoxide were 600 to 700 ppm. Levels that high can raise the level of carbon monoxide in the blood, carboxyhemoglobin to 50% in a matter of minutes. Levels above 50% often are fatal.

According to news reports, all of the individuals involved were transported to Westchester and Bronx hospitals. Hopefully, those involved were given hyperbaric oxygen treatment, as this is known to reduce the incidence of long term brain damage from high exposures of carbon monoxide by about 20%.

Sadly, our experience has shown us that about half of the eleven people in this incident are likely to have long term problems, despite a reasonably quick elimination of the carbon monoxide from their blood. The emergency rooms may have discharged these individuals as soon as their COHb (carboxyhemoglobin) blood levels returned to near normal with no advice as to future problems or the need for future treatment.

High levels of carbon monoxide can cause heart attacks, pulmonary problems and effect every organ in the human body. The organ most vulnerable to long term problems is the brain. If any survivor of the Yonkers carbon monoxide poisoning has ongoing problems, it is imperative that they return for medical treatment as soon as these symptoms occur. What to watch out for? Headaches of course, but also a relapse of the same symptoms they were feeling at the time of the poisoning: nausea, light headedness, fogginess. See https://carbonmonoxide.com/symptoms-of-carbon-monoxide-exposure-can-confused-causes

Long term problems related to brain damage from Yonkers carbon monoxide poisoning fall in to four major categories: changes in cognition, changes in mood, changes in behavior and neurological deficits. See https://carbonmonoxide.com/brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning

Changes in Cognition After Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The most obvious sign of brain damage after carbon monoxide poisoning are the changes in cognition, the way a person thinks, remembers, processes information. A person doesn’t suddenly become stupid, but thinking, remembering and concentrating become more difficult. These changes are most noticeable when the person is tired or in pain, such as from the headaches which occur in most cases.

Also. sometimes considered a cognitive change, is change in frontal or executive functioning. Changes in executive function involve difficulty making decisions, difficulties in initiating activity and poor judgment.

Changes in Mood After Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Changes in mood is another example of what brain damage can do to a person. As differentiated from behavior, a change in mood is how a person feels about themselves. Depression, anxiety and an overall dulling of emotions are some of the mood changes that may occur with brain damage from carbon monoxide exposure. Rapid mood swings are also something to watch out for.

Changes in Behavior After Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Changes in behavior is differentiated as this involves how a person interacts with others. Impulsivity, anger, changes in manners and ability to stay within social norms happen.

Neurological Deficits After Yonkers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The most distinctive pattern of brain damage after carbon monoxide poisoning includes significant changes in the way in which the nervous system interacts with the brain. The cranial nerves and the areas deep inside the brain where perception and processing of input from the central nervous system are quite specifically damaged by carbon monoxide poisoning. This can impact vision, hearing, balance and sleep.