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Even if you are exposed to just small amounts of carbon monoxide (CO), the toxic gas could kill you or cause you permanent health issues. The symptoms you experience will often depend on the concentration of CO in your environment along with the amount of time you are exposed to the toxic gas. In nearly every case of exposure, carbon monoxide poisoning treatments are essential to minimize much of the damage to your heart, brain and other vital organs.
Common Symptoms
Exposure to carbon monoxide fumes in a poorly ventilated area can create many common symptoms that might be obvious or subtle. These include:
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Personality and behavioral changes
- Emotional swings
- A general sick feeling (malaise)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Problems with vision and hearing
- Difficulty in walking
- Clumsiness
- Rapid breathing
- Vomiting and nausea
- Impaired judgment, confusion and other cognitive issues
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Chest pain
In many situations, if treatment is not provided immediately, the victim can easily lose consciousness, enter a coma, experience a seizure and potentially die from exposure to CO gases. In fact, death can occur after just minutes of high CO concentration exposure or less than one hour of exposure to carbon monoxide at low levels.
Long-term, low-level CO poisoning often produces warning signs that include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, headache, malaise and at times vomiting and nausea. In some situations, victims may be experience unexplained vision issues, numbness, impaired concentration and memory along with sleep disturbances.
Effective Treatments
Because carbon monoxide molecules can so easily attach themselves to hemoglobin in red blood cells, it usually deprives tissue of much-needed oxygen. Inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide produces the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, restricting oxygen from reaching vital organs.
Highly concentrated or long-term accumulation of carbon monoxide inhalation can create hypoxia, causing suffocation to tissue, vital organs and the brain. As a result, doctors will often develop oxygen treatments to strip away the CO molecules from the red blood cells in an effort to save the patient and reduce symptoms.
Oxygenating the bloodstream usually requires placing the patient in a hyperbaric chamber where oxygen is forced into vital organs. However, the pure oxygen environment under pressure can create its own symptoms when the patient experiences adverse reactions including ear pain, elevated heart rate or other serious condition.
The therapeutic complications associated with hyperbaric treatments can also produce gas embolism, seizures and trauma to the middle ear and sinuses. The treatment will often include monitoring the heart around-the-clock, along with pulse oximetry that measures oxygen saturation in the bloodstream.
CO Exposure Lawsuit
In many cases, exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide occurs through the negligent actions of another individual, business or entity. This is because carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when gas-powered equipment, vehicles and appliances are not maintained properly. Many carbon monoxide poisoning lawsuit cases are filed because the victim suffered exposure to CO fumes by malfunctioning heaters or exposure to toxic levels of the gas from vehicle exhaust, fireplaces and chimneys along with defective stoves and ovens.
If you have been seriously injured and require carbon monoxide poisoning treatments to restore your health, you might have a case for compensation. You might be eligible for financial redress if you are suffering acute, sub-acute or chronic conditions from carbon monoxide poisoning. However, filing a case involving concentrated CO exposure is often legally complex and requires a comprehensive understanding of personal injury tort law.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can provide legal representation to assist you in filing a lawsuit against all parties responsible for your injuries. Potential defendants in your lawsuit might include property owners, landlords, property managers, service companies, product manufacturers and others.
Our skilled law firm can investigate your case to develop a strong claim for recompense for your injuries related to carbon monoxide poisoning. Our lawyers can build the case to negotiate an out-of-court settlement or take the suit to trial. Hiring our team now is essential, because your case is time sensitive. All paperwork must be filed in the proper court before the expiration of the state’s statute of limitations. Call our law offices now at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free no obligation consultation. We accept all carbon monoxide poisoning personal injury cases on contingency to avoid the need of paying any upfront fees.
