Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Disaster Surveillance

Pyramid representing CO Framework

Disaster-related carbon monoxide exposure often occurs after a power outage, when homeowners use portable generators or charcoal grills either indoors or too close to living areas. In addition, using fuel-powered tools such as pressure washers or warming up vehicles in attached garages both pose a risk of CO poisoning. Identifying and describing who is at greatest risk for CO poisoning after a disaster is important for targeting public health interventions, such as risk messaging, designed to prevent future poisonings. The figure above illustrates the surveillance components of CDC’s disaster-related carbon monoxide poisoning surveillance framework. Below are the respective data sources identified for each component, the resulting estimates, and the dissemination of the findings.

Disaster-related carbon monoxide exposure research that uses multiple data sources:

 

Mortality

  National Vital Statistics System: From 1999 through 2004 there were 439 unintentional, non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning deaths annually in the U.S.

 Top of Page

Hospitalization

  Nationwide Inpatient Sample: In 2007, there were 2,302 hospitalizations for confirmed cases of unintentional, non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S.

 Top of Page

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

 Top of Page

Emergency Department Visits

  Nationwide Emergency Department Sample: In 2007 there were 21,304 emergency department visits for confirmed cases of unintentional, non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S.

 Top of Page

Poison Centers

  National Poison Data System [PDF – 4.8 MB]: 6,832 exposure calls annually (2000-2009)

 Top of Page

National Fire Protection Association

National Fire Protection Association: During 2006-2010, municipal fire departments in the U.S. responded to an annual average of 72,000 non-fire related carbon monoxide incidents.  Top of Page

Health Behaviors

Presence of carbon monoxide alarm at home

Attitude regarding generator placement

Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response

 Top of Page

 

 

TOP