December 12th, 2017
Hurricane Katrina made landfall onAugust 29, 2005, on the Gulf Coast of the United States, causing loss of life, widespread property damage, and power outages.After hurricanes, some residents use portable generators and other gasoline-powered appliances for electrical power and cleanup. These devices produce carbon monoxide (CO), and improper use can cause CO poisoning (1,2). DuringAugust 29–September 24, a total of 51 cases of CO poisoning were reported by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) facilities inAlabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This report describes these cases and the rapidly implemented reporting system that identified them. CO poisoning can be prevented by reducing exposure to CO through appropriate placement and ventilation of gasoline-powered engines. Investigations into CO poisonings in Florida after hurricanes in 2004 revealed that approximately 40% of patients had received HBO2 treatment. To monitor cases of CO poisoning from HBO2 facilities in the three affected states, CDC collaborated with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS) to initiate reporting after Hurricane Katrina. Members of UHMS were asked to report cases, which were compiled and submitted to CDC and shared with each affected state on a daily basis. HBO2 facilities were asked to report information on individual cases and incidents in which multiple persons were poisoned by the same exposure, the date of presentation to the HBO2 facility, state of residence, source of exposure, and the source of HBO2 treatment. Of the 35 HBO2 facilities (Alabama: five, Mississippi: 10, and Louisiana: 20), four (one, two, and one, respectively) reported treating patients. The extent of underreporting of treated patients is unknown.