Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Brain Damage

When you’re at home, work, or in a public space in San Antonio, you probably aren’t thinking about the dangers of carbon monoxide. However, wherever you go, the threat of carbon monoxide exposure is there. Engines, gas-powered tools, and modern appliances release carbon monoxide as a byproduct, and overexposure can cause serious injuries with long-term effects.

If you or a loved one has suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s important that you talk to a San Antonio lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning. An experienced attorney can review your case and work with you to hold the negligent party accountable for your injuries and other damages.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that can cause serious harm if people are exposed to dangerous levels of it. Because of its difficulty to detect until it’s too late, carbon monoxide has been nicknamed the “silent killer.” The following are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Upset stomach
• Weakness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Vomiting and nausea
• Confusion
• Sharp chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

At low levels of exposure, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be mistaken for other illnesses like the flu or food poisoning. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following symptoms, be sure to get help, then call a personal injury attorney serving San Antonio.

One of the worst aspects of carbon monoxide poisoning is it’s long-term effects on the brain. CO exposure can lead to life-long neurological issues concerning memory, cognition, language, behavior, and mood. CO poisoning can even lead to a movement disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease.

One strange aspect of carbon monoxide poisoning and brain damage is the delayed onset of neurological conditions, which can take a few days or even up to 5 or 6 weeks to occur in some cases. No one is exactly sure why this happens, but it shows that you should visit the doctor more than once after a serious exposure to carbon monoxide.

If you have suffered brain damage due to carbon monoxide poisoning, you should consult a San Antonio lawyer for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Inhaling carbon monoxide causes one’s brain, heart, lungs, and other vital organs to be deprived of oxygen. High levels of exposure can cause loss of consciousness, suffocation, and death within a matter of minutes. With mild levels of exposure, victims can stabilize quickly once removed from the dangerous environment. In both cases, victims of carbon monoxide poisoning should visit the hospital, where they’ll be treated in one of the following ways:

• Breathing oxygen - A victim of CO poisoning can receive oxygen through a mask, replenishing his oxygen levels in his bloodstream. In some cases, victims of severe CO poisoning may have difficulty breathing on their own. In those instances, they may be placed on a ventilator.




• An oxygen chamber - Another option is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, where victims are placed in a pressurized chamber of pure oxygen. The pressure in this chamber is up to 3 times greater than normal, which allows the oxygen to get into the bloodstream quicker, protecting vital organs, the heart, and brain tissue.

Although these treatments can help, they do not always eliminate carbon monoxide poisoning effects on the brain. If you have suffered brain damage because of carbon monoxide poisoning, a lawyer can help you get justice.

When you’re exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in San Antonio, you deserve compensation. Most carbon monoxide poisoning cases are caused by someone’s negligence, and they need to be held accountable for their actions. A personal injury attorney serving San Antonio can be there for you to get you what you deserve.

Every day, The Law Firm of Carabin Shaw fights for those who have suffered because of the negligence of others. For a free case review, call us today at 210-222-2288.