BPI Certified Repairman Saves Woman's Life by Recognizing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
BPI recognizes the heroic efforts of BPI Certified Building Analyst Carl Harvey, who saved the life of a homeowner when he detected a potentially lethal Carbon Monoxide leak while replacing a hot water heater. Harvey recognized CO deposits in the piping, and immediately urged the homeowner, who had been feeling sick for weeks, to consult a doctor. The doctor confirmed CO poisoning in the blood at near lethal levels, and the homeowner received immediate treatment. Carl commented that he “was doing what he was trained to do.” The now healthy homeowner alerted local American Red Cross chapter of what had happened, and nominated Carl for the Industrial Safety Award – which he then received at the annual American Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast in Syracuse, New York.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doug Pearl on -
Great job Carl!
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Permalink Reply by Stan Kuhn on -
It's nice to see the occassional acknowledgement of the good that is done by those in our line of work.
I noted that the new water heater is an electric one :)
I don't think I've ever seen "CO deposits" though.
It's interesting that Carl could taste something, maybe the oxides??
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Permalink Reply by Tom Delconte on -
Well, let's see...
The flue was 'gone'. I believe that meant it had been removed or was completely rusted out, it's hard to say.
The pipes, but which pipes?, had carbon monoxide deposits on them. Having analyzed zillions of deposits in one of my former lives, maybe he meant what was left of the flue had carbon deposits on it, or had ferric oxide deposits on it(rust), or he meant that the gas pipe had a deposit on it, or maybe the hot water pipe out of the heater had the typical white deposit that forms on a steel inlet, or that it had a green copper oxide on copper deposit on it? It's a mystery, call in Sherlock!
Carbon monoxide deposits? certainly not.
He is correct that CO in air has a metallic taste, if you can still taste up to the moment it knocks you unconscious, and then kills you.
The story, however, sounds completely true, and that does make him a hero, despite the lack of chemical knowledge. There's nothing like a great 'burner man', they're mostly gone from society.
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Redmond on -
NYSWDA is very proud of Carl Harvey for his heroic action. Since starting his employment at The Cayuga -Seneca Community Action Weatherization Department Carl has attended many trainings and received his BPI certifications at NYSWDA's Energy Efficiency Training Center in Syracuse, NY. We ar very honored to train and test some of the most decicated and hardworking weatherization professionals in the nation. Out thanks to all the crew and auditors that work in the NY State Weatherization Assistance Program !!!
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Permalink Reply by Tom Delconte on
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Carl Harvey also went far beyond the RESNET code of ethics for contractors, and should be lauded as such.
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