Carbon monoxide poisoning at motels, hotels, and resorts.
BACKGROUND
Each year, more than 200 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Poisoning has occurred at motels, hotels, and resorts. Congressional mandate requires smoke alarms in all guest rooms; however, smoke alarms do not detect CO.


METHODS
Data on patients poisoned at hotels, motels, and resorts were evaluated at a hyperbaric medicine service. In 2005, legal databases and online news databanks were searched to discover additional incidents. Only victims evaluated in hospitals or declared dead at the scene were included. Cases of intentional poisoning and poisoning from fires were excluded.


RESULTS
Between 1989 and 2004, 68 incidents of CO poisoning occurring at hotels, motels, and resorts were identified, resulting in 772 accidentally poisoned: 711 guests, 41 employees or owners, and 20 rescue personnel. Of those poisoned, 27 died, 66 had confirmed sequelae, and 6 had sequelae resulting in a jury verdict. Lodging-operated, faulty room heating caused 45 incidents, pool/spa boilers 16, CO entrained from outdoors 5, and unreported sources caused 2 incidents. Public verdicts have averaged $4.8 million per incident (range, $1 million to $17.5 million). Poisoning occurred at hotels of all classes. Despite these incidents, most properties did not install CO alarms, and requirements for CO alarms at hotels, motels, and resorts are rare.


CONCLUSIONS
Guests of motels, hotels, and resorts remain at risk for injury or death from CO poisoning. Measures to prevent CO poisoning of guests and employees of the lodging industry should be evaluated.
Weaver
Lindell K
LK
Hyperbaric Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care Division, Department of Internal Medicine, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. lindell.weaver@intermountainmail.org
Deru
Kayla
K
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006798:Housing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014691:Ventilation
D002248:Carbon Monoxide