Use of Pulse Co-Oximetry as a Screening and Monitoring Tool in Mass Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains a common cause of poisoning in the United States. We describe a case where responding fire department personnel encountered a sick employee with a headache at an automotive brake manufacturing plant. Using both atmospheric CO monitoring and pulse CO-oximetry technology, fire department personnel were able to diagnose the cause of the patient's illness and later identify the source of CO in the plant.

Key words: :

• carbon monoxide
• pulse CO-oximetry
• multiple casualty event
• toxicology