Deep Creek Marina Dangers

WHAT IS CARBON MONOXIDE?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is produced when a carbon-based fuel -- such as gasoline, propane, charcoal, or oil -- burns.

CO Sources on your boat may include engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, and space and water heaters. Even engines with catalytic converters produce some CO.

WHY IS CARBON MONOXIDE SO DANGEROUS?

Carbon monoxide enters your bloodstream through the lungs, blocking the oxygen your body needs. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or very quick exposure to high concentrations can kill you.

Early symptoms of CO poisoning include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. These symptoms are often confused with seasickness or intoxication, so those affected may not receive the medical attention they need.

HOW CAN YOU PROTECT OTHERS & YOURSELF?

1. Know the signs of CO poisoning.
2. Know where & how CO may accumulate in and around your boat.
3. If you can smell engine exhaust, you are inhaling CO.
4. Follow all warnings and instructions for canvas, engine, & blower operations, etc.
5. Maintain fresh air circulation throughout the boat at all times.
6. Know where your engine & generator exhaust outlets are located & keep everyone away from these areas.
7. Stay off the back deck & the swim platforms while the engines and/or generators are running.
8. Never enter areas under swim platforms where exhaust outlets are located.
9. Although CO can be present without the smell of exhaust fumes, if exhaust fumes are detected on the boat, take immediate action to ventilate these fumes.
10. Treat symptoms of seasickness as possible CO poisoning. -- Get the person into fresh air immediately. Seek medical attention -- unless you're sure its not CO.
11. Install & maintain approved marine-grade CO detectors. -- Every alarm requires immediate action.
12. If CO is suspected, turn off all engines & open all hatches, windows & ports to ventilate. -- Changing course & speed to place boat heading into the wind can improve ventilation.
13. Maintain your engine in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. Engines that are not tuned properly produce more CO.
14. Use CO Safety Checklists each trip, as well as annually, in order to maintain CO safety!

Did You Know?

• Most propeller accidents can be prevented!
• Accidental falls overboard are a leading cause of propeller-related accidents.
• A typical three-blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can strike 160 time in one second, and can travel from head to toe on an average-size person in less than one-tenth of a second.

What Can You Do?

1. Be aware of what is going on around you! The captain of the boat is in command and must take responisbility for the safety of people in and around the boat.
2. Always wear your ignition cut-off switch lanyard. If the lanyard is pulled from the switch, the engine will shut off allowing the prop to slow rapidly and then stop.
3. Always assign a passenger to keep watch around the propeller area of the boat when people are in the water.
4. Wear your life jacket and instruct all passengers to do the same.
5. Read and follow all the safety instructions in your boat and engine operator's manuals.
6. Have your boat's steering system inspected annually by a certified technician for signs of premature wear.

THE FACTS

Everyone who owns or operates a boat must practice fire safety. Each year, boat fires and explosions injure hundreds of individuals and cause millions of dollars in property damage. Many of these accidents can be prevented.

Be alert for damage to your boat's fuel system. Over time, fuel fittings and fuel hoses wear out. Inspect these fittings and hoses regularly, especially near the engine where engine heat and vibration can accelerate deterioration.

Before Each Trip:

• Before starting the engine "sniff" your bilges. Getting down on your hands and knees and using your nose is the best fuel/vapor detector.
• Operate the bilge blower for AT LEAST FOUR MINUTES before starting an inboard or sterndrive engine. If you still smell fumes, try to locate the source and make repairs before starting the engine.
• Make sure all passengers know where to find your fire extinguishers and how to operate them.
• Before refueling, close all hatches, ports, and other openings; shut off engines, motors, pumps, and blowers; and DO NOT SMOKE. Fill all portable tanks on the dock.
• After refueling, wipe up or wash off excess or spilled fuel; open all hatches and ports; and let the boat air out. "Sniff" your bilges. Operate the bilge blower for AT LEAST FOUR MINUTES before starting the engine.
• On a boat with portable fuel tanks, make sure the vents can be closed and the tanks have a vapor-tight, leak-proof cap. The vent on a portable tank should be open when the motor is running. When the portable tank is not in use, the vent and the cap should be tightly closed.