Disaster Averted...Death Cheated

[SilverHamer]

I have had quite the harrowing experience the last couple of days as I was exposed to a fair dose of carbonmonoxide...me and 13 others. We all woke up on our offshore platform Sunday morning with headaches, dizziness, nausia, etc., and had to be evacuated to the hospital. Fortunately that was as bad as it got but it could have been a lot worse. I had to spend almost two full days in the the hospital before they released me, and I just got home last night. The upside is that I get a couple of extra days off this time. About half of us had to spend the night in the hospital while the others were released the same day...we all had varying degrees of CO in our blood, but my helicopter mechanic and I were the worst...his was highest and mine was second...mainly because our bedrooms were closest to the source of the exhaust gases coming into the living quarters...the big compressor engine which was the culprit. This is the first time this has happened out there as the wind direction was just right to blow it right back into the living quarters, and into the air conditioning system. This problem is currently under repair as I've learned that the Feds have been out there conducting an investigation. They are not going to allow anyone to stay there anymore until certain reparations have been completed.

A friend of mine has told me that I have won the lottery if I want to pursue it...and although I've sort of been kicking that notion around, I'm hesitant to act on it since this was a first occurance and the company has been proactive to remedy the situation. If I had sustained any permanent disability from this event I may feel differently about litigating but for now I'm not inclined to do so for reasons stated. I DID have a bit of a scare as the doctors told me that my cardiac enzyme levels were elevated enough for them to think that I may have had a mild heart attack...one reason I had a prolonged stay in the hospital. I had to take a stress test yesterday...the drug-induced type...and I hope and pray that I will never have to go through that again. They used chemicals to make my heart rate go up to 144 bpm while they used an echocardiogram/ultrasonic contraption to make pictures. The good news there is that everything came back normal, no damage, and the ole ticker is still thumping away normally. The procedure sure was frightening though.

Anyways...I'm home...feeling a bit ragged around the edges, but I'm fine. Should be back in top form in a couple more days as effects of the CO and the overall drain from this experience has passed. Listening to Abacab as I type...hehehe.

It's great to be here!!!!! Whewww!

LC

[Tracy]

Damn Larry! That's one hell of an experience. I'm glad you're ok. I lost a friend to CO in a car and it wasn't a pretty site. Did any of you suffer nose or ear bleeds?

CO more is more readily absorbed by your blood than O is. And it's harder to release so the blood cells end up literally bursting because of the amount of CO they're carrying and causes internal bleeding. (at least, that's what I read back when my friend was found a bloody mess in his car..he had fallen asleep with the engine running).

[MarkE]

Holy crap Larry! Im happy that you guys are okay. It make me think of studying it in pilot training. You dont even know its happening. Damn man.....
Monoxide molecules sticking to your hemos blocking O2. Jeeezzz....

Go give your wife a big bear hug!

[SilverHamer]

Thanks a lot. Cassie, nobody had any bleeding. Plenty of puking though...except that I didn't have the nausia most everyone else had...I just had a splitting headache and shortness of breath. It was a real drag.

[Tracy]

I'm glad it didn't get to the bloody stage hun. And that headache was caused by lack of O to the brain (common cause of hangover headache too). Lack of O to the brain = damaged brain cells.

I hope at least the company is covering your hospital and meds bills. The best advise I can offer you is to not sign off on any rights your company presents as to your injuries because you don't know the long term effects of the lack of O to your brain may cause.

The company may be doing all they can to fix the immediate problem but they are certainly responsible for this AND any long term damages you incurred. And their major concern is their own insurance problems.

I advise this because my mother tripped over a ladder in a Walmart that was being renovated while open and hurt her wrist. The manager came running over with a release form which she signed as she was still down on the floor and shook up. Later on, she spent a couple thousand dollars treating a broken wrist and had no recourse.

Don't close that door hun. You don't have to act now and may appear as not being a team player, but we're talking about your life and lively hood.

This is a very serious episode. People (including you) could have easily died.

[MarkE]

The more I think about this the more it gives me shivers. jeezzusss Larry...

Man...am I ever glad you are okay. Its wierd how life is.... everything is going good and suddenly someone tries to pull your plug. You dont even see it coming.

Heck, in addition to giving your wife a big bear hug, you get one from me. Welcome back man.

[SilverHamer]

There are inherent hazards in my job which we must always remain aware of, some of them more extreme than others. Awareness and vigilance are a must, but by and large you know what to expect and can be prepared for most of them. The potential for a CO hazard is always there, but happens so infrequently that for some people it was hard to believe that it happened. The most important thing is to keep your head out of your ass and be aware of the world around you. Being required to know the effects and symptoms of CO from my training (and I was an instructor for about 13 years and had to teach/evaluate it on checkrides) was a very key aspect of how this event ultimately turned out because most everyone else just thought they were sick with a flu bug...I did too before I learned that almost everyone else were having the same symptoms as I was. But I had to pull up a website description of CO poisoning for certain individuals before they would fully accept that the cook hadn't poisoned us with his cooking...especially since this sort of thing had never happened out there before, even when the wind was blowing from the same direction as this time. However, this first-hand experience will not be forgotten.

The foreman, who actually stays on another platform, used to work on the one I stay on up until about 6 months ago, which is when he was promoted to his current position. He had worked on this platform for about 15 years and just couldn't imagine that there could be a CO problem, and was a little difficult to convince. The call that I made to my manager is what basically got the ball rolling on getting all of us off of the platform as I told my manager that I was in no condition to fly and needed a replacement...as well as my mechanic. They launched an aircraft with a replacement pilot for me and to bring my mechanic and I back in to the beach...we were on our way in to Galveston when we received a radio call to proceed direct to the UTMB Hospital...and subsequent flights came afterward with the rest of the crew. My manager leaned on the oil company to have their men checked, and had to talk to a few people up their chain to assert his point. It was just too incredible for some people to accept right away. They have a much different idea about it all now...in fact, they are changing the exhaust pipes on ALL of their offshore compressor engines and generators as a result of this incident, and having the Feds all over their asses performing an investigation has a way of adjusting attitudes as well, but they elected to change all of the exhaust pipes without any pressure from the Feds. They are going to re-direct them so they they are angled down and away from the platform...previously they just pointed straight out and away. THAT is no small thing.

The only paperwork I've had to sign to this point is that which the hospital required of me for treatment. Thanks for the heads-up, Cassie, as I will keep what you said in mind. So far everything seems to be working out quite well with everything and I am rebounding well. I'm still feeling the side effects from everything, particularly that damned stress test...I feel a bit worn out and traumatized...LOL. I hope I NEVER have to experience that damned chemically-induced stress test EVER again...nor do I ever want to be exposed to CO like this again either.

[Tarkus]

jeez, larry, you ARE lucky to be alive! that co is insidious stuff... you're dead before you know what's happening!!

i suppose it IS better to be lucky than good - glad you're still with us!!!

[Jack In The Green]

Larry, I'm glad that you're alright and that no one died out there.

[MDDRUMZ]

Keee-rist! Can't a guy take a little vacation without all hell breaking loose?!?!

Seriously though, Larry. That's some scarey business and I'm so happy that you and everyone else is OK. Keep careful watch of your conditions. Maybe even have your own doc check you out if you haven't already.

[SilverHamer]

Update...

My company called a few days after I was released from the hospital to inform me that I would indeed be required to get a release to return to work from a flight surgeon as I suspected all along. I was initially told I wouldn't need to, but I knew they would change their position. So I payed a visit to my flight doc last Friday and all is well...in fact I'm back out in the Gulf of Mexico as I type this message.

The oil company put a new exhaust stack on the big compressor engine and it is directed down toward the water now...this will be fine until the "Dog Days Of Summer" set in...my opinion though...when there is absolutely no wind, it's hotter than hades, and the water is glassy smooth. I think we may have the exhaust rising with the heat right back upon us, but we shall see what we shall see. I'm told that CO is not a "rising gas" and will stay down...but if it doesn't work like that, I'll refuse to stay on this platform.

Anyways, it's still good to be back on the job.