Indicator Report - Carbon Monoxide: Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits
Why Is This Important?
Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sudden illness or death if inhaled. This cause of death is almost entirely preventable if proper measures are taken such as always having a working carbon monoxide detector in your home or work.CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, gas ranges, and heating systems. Whenever there is a flame or combustion, some deadly carbon monoxide gas can be produced. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces causing people and animals in these spaces to be poisoned by breathing it.
CO poisoning is especially a concern after emergency situations such as power outages or natural disasters because of certain equipment people use that gives off CO. Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline equipment, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement, garage, camper, or even outside near an open window.
CO poisoning can also occur outdoors in fresh air and has been reported while boating. In this case, CO poisoning is attributed mostly to generator exhaust that builds up inside and outside a boat in areas near exhaust vents. Dangerous concentrations of CO can accumulate within seconds; therefore, schedule regular engine and exhaust system maintenance with your boat and install and test daily a battery operated CO detector.
CO poisoning is almost entirely preventable. To protect yourself from CO poisoning, use equipment that emits CO responsibly and use a properly working carbon monoxide detector in your home. These can be purchased at most grocery and home improvement stores for relatively low cost.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hospitalizations and ED Visits by Age, Utah, 2000-2009
Data Notes
Count of hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to carbon monoxide poisoning per age group from 2000-2009 divided by sum of midyear population for each age group.Data Sources
Emergency Department Encounter Database, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Utah Department of Health. Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data, Office of Health Care Statistics, Utah Department of Health. Population Estimates: Utah Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.Other Views
- Counts by Year, Utah, 2001-2008
- by Sex and Year Group, Utah, 2001-2009
- Crude Rates by Year, Utah, 2000-2009
- by Cause and Year Group, Utah, 2001-2009
Definition
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled.How We Calculated the Rates
| Numerator: | Resident hospitalizations or emergency department visit for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. |
| Denominator: | Midyear resident population. |
Page Content Updated On 04/12/0012,
Published on 04/16/2012
