Carbon Monoxide, The Silent Killer Of The Texas Winter Storm

Texas faced a hard winter this year, between the power outages and the unprecedented winter storm, Texans were left to fend for themselves while the state collapsed and some of their leaders fled the state.

Food was scarce, the cold temperatures caused pipes to burst, leading to water disruptions for almost half of the state’s population. Many others lost their power, forcing families to come up with new ways to stay warm. In the middle of desperation, many turned to their cars for shelter, warmth, and power. Little did they know a silent killer awaited: Carbon monoxide (CO).

When car engines are left running, they produce carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that kills you if you inhale enough of it, and when it builds up in enclosed spaces such as a garage, it leaks back into people’s houses. Even sitting in an idling car in an open garage can be dangerous

Many states require CO alarms in people’s homes and other housing buildings, Texas is one of only six states that doesn’t. 

Thousands of Texans looking for ways to find heat for themselves and their families unleashed the deadly gas into their homes, resulting in the country’s “biggest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent history,” according to Dr. Neil Hampson, a retired doctor who has spent more than 30 years researching carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention. 

According to NBC News at least 11 deaths were confirmed and more than 1,400 people visited the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning during the Texas outage. Almost half of the people poisoned were children. 

Black, Hispanic and Asian Texans got affected the most by this type of poisoning. 

“When I see people who die of hypothermia, or carbon monoxide poisoning, when I see the disruption to the business community, the people who can’t get a hot meal, can’t get water … this cannot stand,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick back in February. Still, the legislative session is almost over and lawmakers, including Patrick, have taken few steps towards implementing measures to prevent CO poisoning from happening in Texas.

Texas faced a hard winter this year, between the power outages and the unprecedented winter storm, Texans were left to fend for themselves while the state collapsed and some of their leaders fled the state.

Food was scarce, the cold temperatures caused pipes to burst, leading to water disruptions for almost half of the state’s population. Many others lost their power, forcing families to come up with new ways to stay warm. In the middle of desperation, many recurred to their cars for shelter, warmth, and power. Little did they know a silent killer awaited: Carbon monoxide (CO).

When car engines are left running, they produce carbon monoxide, a deathly gas that kills you if you inhale enough of it, and when it builds up in enclosed spaces such as a garage, it leaks back into people’s houses. Even sitting in an idling car in an open garage can be dangerous

Many states require CO alarms in people’s homes and other housing buildings, Texas is one of only six states that doesn’t. 

Thousands of Texans looking for ways to find heat for themselves and their families unleashed the deadly gas into their homes, resulting in the country’s “biggest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent history,” according to Dr. Neil Hampson, a retired doctor who has spent more than 30 years researching carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention. 

According to NBC News at least 11 deaths were confirmed and more than 1,400 people visited the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning during the Texas outage. Almost half of the people poisoned were children. 

Black, Hispanic and Asian Texans got affected the most by this type of poisoning. 

“When I see people who die of hypothermia, or carbon monoxide poisoning, when I see the disruption to the business community, the people who can’t get a hot meal, can’t get water … this cannot stand,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick back in February. Still, the legislative session is almost over and lawmakers, including Patrick, have taken little steps towards implementing measures to prevent CO poisoning from happening in Texas.