ADHS
Deputy Assistant Director Will Humble, however, warned that
carbon monoxide intake–very toxic in small quantities–can be
a particular danger in the context of other risk factors commonly
associated with boating. Among those risk factors are: alcohol
consumption, heat‑related dehydration, and young people
using bad judgement.
“When
all this is happening (on boats) above water and you put it
all together, it’s a real recipe for disaster,” Humble said.
Symptoms
of CO poisoning include inattentiveness or lack of concentration,
ringing in the ears, tightness across the chest, and headache,
drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, collapse and
convulsions, according to the Boater’s Guide of Arizona. Many
victims who survive have permanent brain damage.
The
Peoria Fire Department, in conjunction with the Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office and Lake Pleasant Regional Park authorities,
expect to come up with a plan to reduce the health risks associated
with boat emissions, said Howard Munding, Peoria Fire Marshal.
Humbug
Cove, a secluded spot that is sheltered from the wind, is known
for attracting revelers who consume alcohol while leaving their
boat engines idling, the study stated.
“Bottom
line, a single boat can produce as much carbon monoxide into
the air as 68 idling cars,” Humble said, adding that ten idling
boat engines put out as much CO as 680 idling cars.
“It’s
a major hazard for swim‑step surfers who hold onto the
back of a boat and are pulled through the water,” said Roger
Thomas, a Lake Pleasant recreational boater. “The surfer could
lose consciousness, let go of the boat and drown before anyone
notices what happened.”
A
few weeks ago two young women became ill from carbon monoxide
while swimming near boats in Humbug Cove. They were taken to
a nearby hospital and were expected to recover. “There were
several cases in a row at the lake this summer, including one
boy who was floating
near a boat and lost consciousness,” Munding said.
At
Lake Powell on the Arizona‑Utah border, in August 2000
two brothers died of CO poisoning as they swam near the stern
of a houseboat while the onboard generator was operating. A
later study identified nine boat‑related fatal CO poisonings
and 100 nonfatal poisonings.
According
to ADHS’ Humble, the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from
boats is a “local control issue.”
“It’s
really up to local jurisdictions to figure out a way to manage
the public health risks from boat emissions,” he said.
Lake
Havasu City monitors the air quality in Bridgewater Channel,
a popular boating destination. Charlie Cassens, spokesman for
the city, said during the boating season there are sensors around
the channel which measure CO levels. When the ambient air approaches
hazardous levels, authorities close off the channel to incoming
boat traffic and all boats not moored are required to leave,
he said.
The
city also restricts the time a moored boat can idle in the channel
to no more than one minute, Cassens said.
