After responding to an emergency call to assist a Hovland couple suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning and hearing what Lynn and Greg Barringer went through because a simple piece of medical diagnostic equipment was not available, the Hovland Fire Department set out to acquire a high-tech carbon monoxide monitor.
The emergency response came at the end of an eight month long ordeal for the Barringers. The News-Herald talked to Lynn Barringer by phone at her winter home in Florida about the experience, which started in the fall of 2011. The couple spent the end of the summer at Lynn’s parent’s Hovland vacation home and at the start of the heating season did some traveling, leaving their two dogs in the care of a pet sitter. When they returned in mid-October, Lynn said they were shocked to find the dogs “in rough shape.” She said their coats were mangy and their eyes filled with matter.
The Barringers were not sure what was wrong with the dogs and they also began feeling ill. In November 2011, Lynn left to visit family in Ecuador. For the first two weeks, she felt unwell, but started feeling better the longer she was there. Her husband Greg, at the Hovland home, was getting sicker and sicker. Lynn encouraged him to go to the doctor—and he did, but no reason for his illness could be found.
Lynn returned in January and she became ill again. After a multitude of tests, there was no diagnosis for either of them. Doctors did consider carbon monoxide poisoning, but Lynn said since they had carbon monoxide monitors at the house—which never made an alarm—that was ruled out.
The couple continued to get sicker. Lynn’s silver jewelry began turning black. They suffered skin eruptions, flu-like symptoms, fatigue and headaches. They thought mold was the possible cause and they had Cook County Environmental Health investigate, but that was found not to be an issue.
Finally, the couple became so ill they were gasping for air. Terry Spieker of the Hovland Fire Department visited and he inspected the carbon monoxide detectors. Pressing a button he found an alarming readout—the level of CO2 was 57 parts per million. A significant amount of CO2, especially for as long as the Barringers had been exposed.
After shutting off the furnace and opening windows to air out the home, the levels dropped and the couple began to feel better. “The headaches began to go away and it became pretty obvious that it was CO2 poisoning,” said Lynn.
A year later they still feel some effects, which is why they are sharing their story—and encouraging others to carefully research when they purchase CO2 detectors. When they arrived at the Hovland house, they installed CO2 detectors because they knew there was a 32-year-old propane furnace. “The detectors we bought weren’t cheap,” said Lynn. “But there was no alarm!”
And, Lynn said, they have since learned that approximately 40 percent of CO2 detectors don’t work as they are supposed to. It’s worth it, she said, to invest a bit more to get a high-quality detector.
And, it is why she is happy that Terry Spieker and the Hovland Fire Department sought a grant to purchase a device that can test the levels of carbon monoxide in a person’s bloodstream. “If this kind of instrument had been available, doctors would have used it,” said Lynn. “We talked to doctors about the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, but since we had the monitors, it was ruled out. But with this quick and easy test, we would have known. A lot of tests could have been avoided.”
The Hovland Fire Department applied for—and received—a grant of $3,500 from the North Shore Health Care Foundation to purchase a Masimo Rad57 Oximeter. Spieker explained that the oximeter clips to a patient’s finger and gives a reading of a CO2 level. The Hovland Fire Department is donating the easy-to-use, non-invasive device to the Cook County Ambulance.
The grant covers most of the cost of the device, but Spieker said the fire department hopes to raise about $1,500 more. That would cover the rest of the oximeter and allow the fire department to purchase another vital piece of monitoring equipment, a two-gas meter. “That can be used to see if there is a gas leak or if explosive gases are present,” explained Spieker.
He said thanks to the people who have donated already, including some of his former colleagues on the Willmar Fire Department. If anyone would like more information about the possible effects of CO2 poisoning or who would like to make a donation to cover the cost of the new monitoring equipment is encouraged to contact Terry Spieker at (218) 475- 2767.
Community members
are also invited to a
Hovland Fire
Department
Benefit Pancake
Supper and Dance
Saturday, October 20
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
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