Early on Wednesday, July 17, in the early hours of the morning, five persons were airlifted from Lake Powell to St. George, Utah, for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning on a houseboat. This led to an enormous medical response. The incident, which began with a report of four persons suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning and eventually involved 21 patients, 16 of whom were treated and released at the scene, was handled by five medical helicopters. Helicopter transportation to St. George involved three adults and two kids, a National Park Service (NPS) news statement stated.
Approximately 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, dispatchers in Kane County, Utah, alerted the Rangers. The incident happened aboard a houseboat that was privately owned in Face Canyon, which is located in Coconino County in Arizona and is about ten miles west of Glen Canyon Dam. By air, the location is roughly 120 miles from St. George. According to the NPS, this was the third occurrence in July involving carbon monoxide to which Rangers from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area had responded. Two medical helicopters were despatched by Intermountain Life Flight and three by Classic Air Medical. After being moved, the five patients arrived at St. George Regional Hospital.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and NPS investigators are presently looking into the source of the carbon monoxide. Before leaving on a trip, boaters are advised by NPS to make sure their onboard detectors are operational and to be aware of the risks associated with carbon monoxide. When breathed in, carbon monoxide, an odorless and tasteless gas, can be fatal. Exposure symptoms can include headaches, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and disorientation. When fuel is burning, motors are running, or appliances are operating, boats can accumulate hazardous levels of carbon monoxide poisoning, and a person sleeping can die from it before realizing the symptoms.
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