Woman dies of carbon monoxide poisoning at Lake Nacimiento

says, You are among a great number of people who don’t realize you can be poisoned by carbon monoxide from boats right out in the open air. Our granddaughter and her best friend were poisoned at Lake Powell on 7-7-07. Look up Megan’s Cause for some good information that may help you save a life. We are so fortunate that our granddaughter survived, but unfortunately, her best friend Megan didn’t. They were outside in the open air in the water when they were poisoned. It happens with both inboard and outboard motors, and from generators. In our case it was an ordinary cabin cruiser. An average boat motor emits the equivalent carbon monoxide of 188 cars and it can incapacitate or kill a person in a matter of seconds. Some boat manufacturers have started putting catalectic convertors on the engines. It will take many, many years for them all to have them. Once they do, it will reduce the danger by about 90%. The U.S. Coastguard website is another place you can get some really good information, as well. Many people have been poisoned “teak surfing”, hanging onto the back of the boat as they go into shore. It is kind of like body surfing. It is fun, and people don’t realize the danger because they believe they are safe out in the open air. It will turn fun into tragedy in an instance. Boating is a great family activity, but people need to know how to be safe. Al Unser, Sr. the race car driver was poisoned from carbon monoxide from a boat. He said if anyone should know about carbon monoxide, he should, but he almost lost his life.