Was I Poisoned?

B

billybokay

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2005
RO Number
18354
Messages
218
I went with a friend to a restaurant with stern in docking. The floating dock is about 6 feet and there is a bulkhead of about 6 feet. So essentially a wall at the stern.
We eat raw clams and other good food, and had some drinks. We drank since we knew we would not be moving the boat until morning. 2 am we retire, friend sleeps in salon with 1 hatch open about 4 inches, I sleep in state room with hatch open in there.
7:30 am we wake up with the worst headaches in the world. (we did not have advil on the boat so the taking before bed to prevent a hangover did not happen)
When I go out to the cockpit to start up and untie I realize there is a boat next to us with his generator on for AC and the exhaust is on my side, stern. No wind whatsoever. His generator was not on at 2 a.m. I start the trip home and begin throwing up. Now I have not thrown up the next day after drinking ever.
I throw up green crap all day and feel horrible and so does my friend. Not until around 6 pm do we start to feel better. My co2 detector is a hardware store variety combination smoke and co-2. Never had it go off like the one it replaced.
I am thinking bad food we get sick sooner.
I think we probably got lucky and had mild co-2 poisoning. Any one ever experience something like this
 
I think your lucky to still be here. Gas generators should be outlawed. People today are just too stupid to be capable of operating them.
 
I think you may have had a combination but CO probably contributed. I agree even LO CO gensets like mine should only be used when you are awake and have the proper safety gear on board (marine CO detectors). Also no other boats in close proximaty.
Is your skin pinkish in color? You can go to the hospital they have a test for CO poisoning.
Bill
 
How old is that smoke/CO detector? CO detectors have a finite life (and there's a thread about that around here somewhere)...

-Chris
 
Upgrade that CO detector to a marine-grade model. I too have an off-the-shelf hardware store model, but that's my backup. Be sure to check the expiration date when you buy as they're only good for 5 years after manufacture.
 
I forgot to add that the sickest I've ever been on the boat was after eating long-neck clams! Never again :-)
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

I think your lucky to still be here. Gas generators should be outlawed. People today are just too stupid to be capable of operating them.

Click to expand...


Can we just outlaw stupidity and be done with it? :-)
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

quote:
Originally posted by Ghost

I think your lucky to still be here. Gas generators should be outlawed. People today are just too stupid to be capable of operating them.

Click to expand...


Can we just outlaw stupidity and be done with it? :-)

Click to expand...

Good point Kurt. Common sense is long gone.
Bill
 
You ate raw clams and drank until 2am. For some reason you think your neighbor may have caused your intestinal illness.
 
I think food poisoning would have come on sooner. I had no problems in the back end if you know what I mean. I am replacing my co 2 detector today. the one now is only 1 year old, but not up to snuff. When I press the test button is says previous carbon monoxide detected. But is said that last week too but I have never heard it alarm. I figure it might have alarmed when the mechanics were working on the boat.
 
It actually CO not CO2 poisoning I would go to the ER and get checked out. Do you know if the other boats occupants ever woke up?
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.

Where is CO found?
CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

How does CO poisoning work?
Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of CO in the air, the body may replace oxygen in blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting into the body, which can damage tissues and result in death.

Bill
 
It's a day later and we are feeling fine.
No need to spend a day at the e.r. The more I think about it the more I realize we got lucky. I never run my gen set overnight and this is the reason.
Never would at a dock with other boats 2 feet away.
 
I don't understand the other boater running thier generator so close to another vessel at dock. I'd chaulk it up to the luck of the draw. Next time let the proper detectors help warn you.
Also if I were tied up to another boat at a dock that was running thier generator I would either move or I would move.
Bill
 
Yeah, that was carbon monoxide poisoning. You dodged a bullet with your name on it there. Even a day later and feeling fine, I'd still go to the hospital.
 
quote:
Originally posted by November Charlie

Yeah, that was carbon monoxide poisoning. You dodged a bullet with your name on it there. Even a day later and feeling fine, I'd still go to the hospital.

Click to expand...

I agree Mike plus I'm pretty sure a few thousand brain cells were lost and I'm not joking CO poisoning is very serious stuff.
Bill
 
CO bonds with hemoglobin so tight you can carry it in your blood for a long time. You should be checked at the hospital. If you were to be re exposed in the near term you might be overcome more quickly than would otherwise be the case. You might also be altitude compromised if signifigant amounts of CO remain in your bloodstream, and flights on even pressurized aircraft could cause hypoxia.
 
Potential CO poisoning is no joke is what we are all telling you. I would see a doctor based on what you and your friend described.
Bill
 
Incredible that someone would run their gas genset at a dock. Just unbelievable. I'd look for a way to report it to make sure that the people doing this hear about it and don't do it again. When I had a generator, the few times I ran it, it was exclusively at anchor with the wind from the bow. Even at anchor ,with no other boats rafted to me, I wouldn't run it if there was a current that overruled the wind so that the wind could blow the exhaust into the cockpit.

CO poisoning is very scary, I would have gone to see a doctor, even if you feel better. Not the ER at this point, but seeing a doctor wouldn't hurt IMO.
 
o.k. you got me, I will see my Doctor tomorrow
I will also contact the owner of the
brand new gorgeous restaurant and suggest he post signs
on the bulkhead
 
quote:
Originally posted by Veg

When I had a generator, the few times I ran it, it was exclusively at anchor with the wind from the bow. Even at anchor ,with no other boats rafted to me, I wouldn't run it if there was a current that overruled the wind so that the wind could blow the exhaust into the cockpit.
Click to expand...

That's the reason I never run my generator at night. A very slight wind may be blowing opposite the stronger river current and blow the CO back into the boat. Things can be Ok and monitored while awake but once you go to sleep and the conditions change there is a potential for the worst to happen.
 
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