riving in the pouring rain with all the windows rolled down probably doesn’t sound ideal, but it is when the alternative is death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
I knew I had an exhaust leak, but I didn’t realize the hole in the pipe was positioned directly under the cab of my van. I had scheduled the repair for my upcoming vacation so clients wouldn’t need to be rescheduled—something they got used to with my aging vehicle—but that plan changed in an instant.
The danger revealed itself thanks to the battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in my work area. The latch on the door between the cab and workspace was broken, so the door would swing open while driving. As soon as carbon monoxide began spilling from the cab into my workspace, the detector sounded.
Had the detector been hard-wired into the generator instead of battery-powered, I never would have been alerted—because I was driving, not running the generator. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless; without that alarm, I might not be here to tell this story.
The half-life of carbon monoxide in the body is about five hours—meaning it takes that long for half of the gas to be expelled from your system, then another five hours to cut that amount in half again. Ten hours later, you may still have 25% of the original CO exposure in your body.
Carbon monoxide poisoning isn’t limited to engine exhaust leaks. CO can enter your workspace through:
- Poorly sealed or aging floors, plus open windows or doors allowing exhaust from idling vehicles or generators to drift inside
- Malfunctioning or improperly vented kerosene, oil or propane heaters (which also pose fire hazards)
- Fuel-powered equipment operating nearby, with intake fans pulling exhaust into your work area
- Parking too close to buildings, walls or thick shrubs, which can force exhaust back into the vehicle
A spokesperson for the Portable Generator Manufacturers Association (PGMA)1 advises mobile groomers to establish a safe generator zone before each appointment, direct exhaust away from doors and windows, and install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors inside their work areas.
- Headache
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling faint
- Rapid or irregular breathing
- Confusion or disorientation
- Weakness
- Chest pain (especially in people with heart disease)
- Impaired judgment
High concentrations can cause unconsciousness, coma or death—sometimes before symptoms are even recognized. Individual reactions vary based on age, health and genetics. One person may develop a headache in minutes, while another may die in the same timeframe.
While it’s not always preventable, you can still make sure you’re alerted to its presence by installing battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your grooming area. These are available at hardware stores, pet industry suppliers or online retailers like Amazon. It’s best to replace the batteries at least once a year and also keep a spare unit in your vehicle.
Needless to say, that exhaust repair originally scheduled for my vacation was moved up immediately and those clients rescheduled. Carbon monoxide poisoning is no joke. The consequences can be deadly.
- The Portable Generator Manufacturers Association. www.pgmaonline.com
- Your resource for portable generator safety information. PGMA. www.takeyourgeneratoroutside.com