Does public education reduce ice storm-related carbon monoxide exposure?
Public education to prevent carbon monoxide exposure during ice storms has been recommended; its effects remain unexamined. We compared patients seen for carbon monoxide inhalation at the area's only academic Emergency Department during 1991 and 2003 ice storms; educational efforts were more intense in 2003. There were fewer patients during the second storm (45 vs. 55); all recovered fully. The percentage of Caucasian patients rose (from 57% to 89%) whereas that of African-American patients fell (from 39% to 7%). Indoor grill use, associated with 11% of 1991 cases, was eliminated in 2003. Indoor gas generators remain the most common source. Carboxyhemoglobin levels correlate poorly with ambient carbon monoxide levels. Enhanced public education had a modest effect, especially in reducing the proportion of African-American patients and those from indoor grill use. Research on more effective public health education targeted at gas generator users and combined with physical interventions should be considered.
Lin
George
G
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
Conners
Gregory P
GP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D040241:Social Marketing; D014887:Weather
D005579:Fossil Fuels; D007053:Ice