carbon monoxide
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:21 pm
from www.complete-hockey.com click on aaa or tier 1 find carbon monoxide post.. scary stuff
CO poisoning
No score for this post November 13 2009, 7:16 AM
There are a lot of problems around the country - where are the carbon monoxide level detectors in Ice Rinks - sounds like multiple problems or a combination of them all to me and ice rinks don't seem to have the CO detectors. Is there a logical reason for this? Shouldn't AHAI or USA Hockey look at the number of reports from ice rinks that this is a problem or do we have to wait for someone to die or get permanent brain damage from it. The players and figure skaters in the rinks will get it worse since they are exercising. Seems like a simple solution instead arguing here about a bus exhaust or Zamboni - I don't think it really matters to the people who get the poisoning if a CO detector could have had the building evacuated. Should AHAI have inspections with meters during tournaments? Doesn't seem too hard unless they know already that most of the rinks have high levels and the money is too great for the tournament to shut down.
1. From Cleveland paperearlier in the year
March 16, 2009, 12:02PM
GATES MILLS — Fire Chief Thomas Robinson said there were several reasons that a half dozen people became ill at a Gilmour Academy ice rink Saturday and a hockey tournament was delayed.
The ice-grooming equipment was not functioning properly. The ventilation system was not supplying enough outside air and hockey team buses were parked and running too close to the arena's air-intake area, he said.
2. From the EPA
Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges and unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air. Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking. Auto, truck, or bus exhaust from attached garages, nearby roads, or parking areas can also be a source.
3. From Virginia
Based on the investigation, the source of CO was determined to be a malfunction of the ice-resurfacing machine (the only source of combustion in the arena). The building's ventilation system, which alternates with a dehumidifier, may have been off during operation of the machine. An open access door from the ice arena to the bingo hall probably permitted CO to diffuse throughout the facility.
Use of the ice-resurfacing machine was discontinued, and the machine was replaced by a newer model. Until a CO detector system is installed in the arena, ambient CO levels are monitored after each ice resurfacing. To assist in preventing future CO poisonings at the arena, the Seattle-King County Health Department advised the arena manager to submit a CO-monitoring plan to the health department.
Reported by: NB Hampson, MD, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle. Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
4. From Hocksett Sept 2009
n April, ESPN Magazine tested carbon monoxide levels at Tri-Town and 39 other ice skating facilities around the country after numerous hockey players became sick from carbon monoxide. The report said the level of carbon monoxide at Tri-Town's facility was more than double the acceptable limit.
The report said Tri-Town's carbon monoxide level was at 74 parts per million; 35 parts per million is considered dangerous and 64 parts per million can cause flu-like symptoms.
The latest incident occurred Sunday night when elevated levels of carbon monoxide activated alarms that are connected to the Hooksett Fire Department. Firefighters evacuated the building before anyone could get sick.
Williams said the gas was emitted from a machine that resurfaces the ice. He said a combination of the machine malfunctioning and human error caused the high carbon monoxide levels.
5. From MN
Minnesota state law is supposed to protect you from toxic air in indoor ice rinks, but 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS discovered that law is not being strictly enforced.
Machines used to resurface ice are powered by gas, diesel or propane and produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide fumes that can hang in the air of indoor rinks.
A state law on the books since 1973, requires rinks to test air quality weekly when the rink is in full use. The law requires the rinks to report their findings to the state health department.
A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS inspection of health department files found some tests were run when the rink wasn’t in use and other tests done with inadequate equipment.
Some rinks, including those in Austin and Worthington, weren’t conducting any tests.
Others, like the Schwan’s Rink in Blaine, were conducting tests, but not submitting the results.
Assistant manager Bill Gasner said, “We are suppose to send them in, but like I said it is not even a slap on the wrist if we don’t.”
Dale Dorschner with the health department admitted officials don’t know if the air quality is safe in indoor rinks.
Ice skating coach Linda Davis of West St. Paul thinks the state should know. She was diagnosed in February with low level carbon monoxide poisoning. Her doctor thinks she was poisoned at one or more of the rinks where she works.
Davis experienced confusion and other symptoms.
She said, “I had such a difficult time breathing, my heart, I felt like I was having a heart attack.”
In 2007, kids and a referee got sick at a hockey tournament in Carlon. The rink operators admitted they didn’t test carbon monoxide levels because they didn’t think it was required by law.
The Bemidji Hockey Board sent a letter to families after someone got sick after a resurfacer malfunctioned during a tournament last winter.
The Minnesota Health Department has investigated seven cases of possible carbon monoxide poisoning related to indoor rinks in the past three years.
CO poisoning
No score for this post November 13 2009, 7:16 AM
There are a lot of problems around the country - where are the carbon monoxide level detectors in Ice Rinks - sounds like multiple problems or a combination of them all to me and ice rinks don't seem to have the CO detectors. Is there a logical reason for this? Shouldn't AHAI or USA Hockey look at the number of reports from ice rinks that this is a problem or do we have to wait for someone to die or get permanent brain damage from it. The players and figure skaters in the rinks will get it worse since they are exercising. Seems like a simple solution instead arguing here about a bus exhaust or Zamboni - I don't think it really matters to the people who get the poisoning if a CO detector could have had the building evacuated. Should AHAI have inspections with meters during tournaments? Doesn't seem too hard unless they know already that most of the rinks have high levels and the money is too great for the tournament to shut down.
1. From Cleveland paperearlier in the year
March 16, 2009, 12:02PM
GATES MILLS — Fire Chief Thomas Robinson said there were several reasons that a half dozen people became ill at a Gilmour Academy ice rink Saturday and a hockey tournament was delayed.
The ice-grooming equipment was not functioning properly. The ventilation system was not supplying enough outside air and hockey team buses were parked and running too close to the arena's air-intake area, he said.
2. From the EPA
Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges and unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air. Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (e.g., boilers, furnaces) can be significant sources, or if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or is leaking. Auto, truck, or bus exhaust from attached garages, nearby roads, or parking areas can also be a source.
3. From Virginia
Based on the investigation, the source of CO was determined to be a malfunction of the ice-resurfacing machine (the only source of combustion in the arena). The building's ventilation system, which alternates with a dehumidifier, may have been off during operation of the machine. An open access door from the ice arena to the bingo hall probably permitted CO to diffuse throughout the facility.
Use of the ice-resurfacing machine was discontinued, and the machine was replaced by a newer model. Until a CO detector system is installed in the arena, ambient CO levels are monitored after each ice resurfacing. To assist in preventing future CO poisonings at the arena, the Seattle-King County Health Department advised the arena manager to submit a CO-monitoring plan to the health department.
Reported by: NB Hampson, MD, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle. Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
4. From Hocksett Sept 2009
n April, ESPN Magazine tested carbon monoxide levels at Tri-Town and 39 other ice skating facilities around the country after numerous hockey players became sick from carbon monoxide. The report said the level of carbon monoxide at Tri-Town's facility was more than double the acceptable limit.
The report said Tri-Town's carbon monoxide level was at 74 parts per million; 35 parts per million is considered dangerous and 64 parts per million can cause flu-like symptoms.
The latest incident occurred Sunday night when elevated levels of carbon monoxide activated alarms that are connected to the Hooksett Fire Department. Firefighters evacuated the building before anyone could get sick.
Williams said the gas was emitted from a machine that resurfaces the ice. He said a combination of the machine malfunctioning and human error caused the high carbon monoxide levels.
5. From MN
Minnesota state law is supposed to protect you from toxic air in indoor ice rinks, but 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS discovered that law is not being strictly enforced.
Machines used to resurface ice are powered by gas, diesel or propane and produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide fumes that can hang in the air of indoor rinks.
A state law on the books since 1973, requires rinks to test air quality weekly when the rink is in full use. The law requires the rinks to report their findings to the state health department.
A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS inspection of health department files found some tests were run when the rink wasn’t in use and other tests done with inadequate equipment.
Some rinks, including those in Austin and Worthington, weren’t conducting any tests.
Others, like the Schwan’s Rink in Blaine, were conducting tests, but not submitting the results.
Assistant manager Bill Gasner said, “We are suppose to send them in, but like I said it is not even a slap on the wrist if we don’t.”
Dale Dorschner with the health department admitted officials don’t know if the air quality is safe in indoor rinks.
Ice skating coach Linda Davis of West St. Paul thinks the state should know. She was diagnosed in February with low level carbon monoxide poisoning. Her doctor thinks she was poisoned at one or more of the rinks where she works.
Davis experienced confusion and other symptoms.
She said, “I had such a difficult time breathing, my heart, I felt like I was having a heart attack.”
In 2007, kids and a referee got sick at a hockey tournament in Carlon. The rink operators admitted they didn’t test carbon monoxide levels because they didn’t think it was required by law.
The Bemidji Hockey Board sent a letter to families after someone got sick after a resurfacer malfunctioned during a tournament last winter.
The Minnesota Health Department has investigated seven cases of possible carbon monoxide poisoning related to indoor rinks in the past three years.