Vitas Gerulaitis? Even I have to think for a minute about that name. As I recall he was a tennis "star" in the late 70's and early 80's. He was far more famous for his blond hair (google his hair, its 70's amazing) and reputation as a partier. What does he have to do with today?
This morning I went out for an early morning run and was a little surprised at the temp. It was chilly. As I look out the window I see trees turning color. For many that means fall. For toxicologists it means carbon monoxide season. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion. Burn wood, charcoal, gasoline or propane and carbon monoxide results. When sitting around a campfire or tailgating at a Brewers game, no problem. When the carbon monoxide builds up in your home, that is a different story. Carbon monoxide first displaces oxygen off your hemoglobin. Your blood carries carbon monoxide instead of oxygen, not good. Even worse, as levels in your body increase carbon monoxide eventually blocks cellular respiration. Thankfully the antidote is close by, fresh air.
Why is fall CO season? As people fire up their furnaces for the first time some are bound to fail. Others heat their homes with poorly vented fireplaces. Calls to poison centers regarding CO greatly increase in fall and winter. Patients show up in emergency departments with headaches, dizziness and other vague symptoms. Low level CO poisoning.
Vitas Gerulaitis? He was staying in a summer cottage of a friend's in Long Island. To prepare for winter the owner had a new propane heater installed. On the morning of September 18, 1994 the heater failed and a tennis star died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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