Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Motels, Hotels, and Resorts

• Published in: American journal of preventive medicine Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 23 - 27
• Main Authors: Weaver, Lindell K., MD, Deru, Kayla, BA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects; Air Pollution, Indoor - legislation & jurisprudence; Carbon Monoxide - adverse effects; Carbon Monoxide - analysis; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - epidemiology; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - etiology; Databases, Factual; Environmental Monitoring - standards; Epidemiological Monitoring; Housing - legislation & jurisprudence; Housing - standards; Humans; Internal Medicine; Liability, Legal; United States - epidemiology; Ventilation; United States
• ISSN: 0749-3797; 1873-2607
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2007.02.038

Background Each year, more than 200 people in the United States die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Poisoning has occurred at motels, hotels, and resorts. Congressional mandate requires smoke alarms in all guest rooms; however, smoke alarms do not detect CO. Methods Data on patients poisoned at hotels, motels, and resorts were evaluated at a hyperbaric medicine service. In 2005, legal databases and online news databanks were searched to discover additional incidents. Only victims evaluated in hospitals or declared dead at the scene were included. Cases of intentional poisoning and poisoning from fires were excluded. Results Between 1989 and 2004, 68 incidents of CO poisoning occurring at hotels, motels, and resorts were identified, resulting in 772 accidentally poisoned: 711 guests, 41 employees or owners, and 20 rescue personnel. Of those poisoned, 27 died, 66 had confirmed sequelae, and 6 had sequelae resulting in a jury verdict. Lodging-operated, faulty room heating caused 45 incidents, pool/spa boilers 16, CO entrained from outdoors 5, and unreported sources caused 2 incidents. Public verdicts have averaged $4.8 million per incident (range, $1 million to $17.5 million). Poisoning occurred at hotels of all classes. Despite these incidents, most properties did not install CO alarms, and requirements for CO alarms at hotels, motels, and resorts are rare. Conclusions Guests of motels, hotels, and resorts remain at risk for injury or death from CO poisoning. Measures to prevent CO poisoning of guests and employees of the lodging industry should be evaluated.