Owner`s manual

41
less, and tasteless gas that by itself can
not be detected by human senses. CO
diffuses in the air much more rapidly than
any other gases that are detectable by the
human senses. The weight of CO is about
the same as air so it does not rise or fall
like other gases but will distribute itself
throughout the boat. CO is produced any
time a material containing carbon is
burned. In boating these materials in-
clude, but are not limited to, gasoline,
diesel fuel and propane. All carbon based
fuels produce varying amounts of CO,
depending on their carbon content. Gaso-
line is high in carbon and therefore pro-
duces high levels of CO. Diesel fuel is low
in carbon and therefore produces lower
levels of CO. However, the exhaust of all
engines and generators as well as any
open flame device produce CO and the
same precautions should be taken regard-
less of the type of fuel.
HOW A PERSON IS AFFECTED BY
CARBON MONOXIDE
When breathed, carbon monoxide is
absorbed by the lungs and reacts with the
blood hemoglobin to form carboxyhemo-
globin, which reduces the oxygen carrying
capacity of the blood. The result is a lack
of oxygen for the tissues with the subse-
quent tissue death and, if prolonged,
death of the individual. Carbon monoxide
in high concentrations can be fatal in a
matter of minutes. Even lower concentra-
tions must not be ignored because the
effects of exposure to CO are cumulative
and can be just as lethal. Certain health
related problems and age increase the
effects of CO. People, who smoke or are
exposed to high concentrations of ciga-
rette smoke, consume alcohol or have
lung or heart disorders are particularly
susceptible to an increase in the effects
from CO. However, the health of all of the
boat’s occupants should be considered.
Physical exertion accelerates the rate at
which the blood absorbs CO. The early
effects of CO poisoning are easy to over-
look because they are similiar to the
effects of other boating related stresses
such as eye strain, fatigue, sun exposure,
seasickness, or alcohol consumption. But
as the concentration of CO in the air
increases, it has increasingly adverse
effects on your health.
One or more of the following symptoms
can signal the adverse effects of carbon
monoxide accumulation. The order of this
list is generally the sequence of symp-
toms. However, the number of symptoms
and the order of appearance may change
for different people:
Watering and Itching eyes
Flushed Appearance
Throbbing temples
Inattentiveness
Inability to think coherently
Ringing in the ears
Tightness across the chest
Headache
Drowsiness
Incoherence
Nausea
Dizziness
Fatigue
Vomiting
Collapse
Convulsions