[OSMB-News] News Release -Boaters Urged to Think About CO Poisoning

[Ashley Massey]

For Immediate Release	Date: Monday, July 20, 2009

Boaters Urged to Think About CO Poisoning

With all of the gorgeous weather we’ve been having lately, there’s
no better time to take to the waterways for a cool respite from the
heat.  But as one family found out, it’s not only important to be
properly equipped, it’s also important to turn your boat motor off
whenever passengers are swimming near a boat’s back side.

On Sunday, July 19, a family was out enjoying a day of boating on the
Columbia River near Fairview, with the occasional dip in the water. 
According to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, the son had been
swimming near the back of the boat while the boat’s motor was idling. 
After being in the same location for a while, the family decided it was
time to move the boat and found their son was face down in the water,
not breathing, but afloat because he was wearing his life jacket. 
Family members were able to pull him into the boat, and as they were
transiting for shore, the boy suddenly started breathing again.  The boy
was taken to Providence Medical Center where he was placed in a
hyperbaric oxygen chamber and fortunately, is recovering.  

In 2005, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 56, prohibiting a
person from operating a motorboat (or idling the engine) while any
person holds onto or occupies any portion of the boat aft of the
transom.  It is important to remember that it’s possible to be
poisoned by carbon monoxide while swimming in the vicinity of the swim
platform, as this family’s close-call demonstrates.  Boaters should
never have the motor running when anyone is in the water, including when
picking up skiers or persons on other towed devices. Another obvious
danger is the swimmer’s proximity to the boat propeller. 

Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and depletes the body of oxygen.
 The first symptoms include headache, nausea and light-headedness.  If
you or any of your passengers have any of these symptoms, change your
course or take other action to improve ventilation.  

For more information about carbon monoxide poisoning or boating safety,
visit http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/safety/Carbon2.shtml 
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Ashley A. Massey
Public Information Officer
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us

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