Man, Son Suffer From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

By Brandy Brubaker, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Apr. 15–A Marion County man is in serious condition after being exposed to carbon monoxide Friday morning. His 6-year-old son also is hospitalized.

Stacy Riffle, 31, was taken by medical helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, a hospital spokeswoman said.

A family member said his son Hunter, 6, is being treated for exposure at Ruby Memorial Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman would not release any information on the boy.

According to reports, Stacy Riffle was working in the basement of a Grant Town house he was remodeling with a generator inside.

He and his son were found by his wife, Kerry, when she came to the home from work after a midnight shift at about 7 a.m. She called Grant Town Volunteer Fire Department, who responded to the scene. Kerry Riffle also reportedly was treated and released at Ruby’s emergency room for the carbon monoxide exposure she sustained while trying to rescue her husband and son. Stacy Riffle’s aunt Inez Stump asked for prayers for her nephew and great nephew. “We’ve got a lot of people praying for them,” Stump said. Stump said Hunter is doing better. He had wanted to attend WVU’s Blue and Gold game tomorrow but will have to stay overnight at the hospital for observation instead. She hopes Stacy will recover quickly. “He is very athletic, and we are hoping that will help him pull through,” Stump said. Each year, 500 people die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. About 15,000 are taken to the hospital for treatment.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you without you even knowing it is there, the USFA said.

In lower levels, it causes headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue.

Carbon monoxide gas can come from several sources, including portable generators, gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the USFA recommends the following:

Install at least one UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal outside of each sleeping area.

Have a professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.

Never use your range or oven to help heat your home. Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.

Never keep a car running in a garage, even if the garage door is open.

When purchasing a home, have a technician check out the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and the house.

Always use generators outside, away from doors, windows and vents.

Test the batteries to your carbon monoxide detector regularly.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

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