When I returned from my Thanksgiving vacation, I found a package from the National Park Service waiting on my desk.

It was the final reports on a June accident at Lake Powell where eight people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning, one of whom died. I referenced the accident in an October article discussing the reliability of carbon monoxide alarms. I requested the reports weeks ago under the Freedom of Information Act.

The final reports included narrative descriptions of the scene and subsequent investigation, witness interviews and illustrations from the park service and U.S. Coast Guard. In all, the stack of documents was about 1 1/2 inches thick and appeared to be comprehensive.

The park service and Coast Guard reports indicated the Howeths were poisoned from a gasoline-powered generator which had a design flaw in its exhaust system. (Twin Anchors, which manufactured the Howeth's rented boat, does not concur with that conclusion and says more investigation is needed.)

Some of you reading about the Howeths might wonder if your houseboat, or the houseboat you plan to rent this summer, has the same exhaust system. That's unlikely, unless you have a Twin Anchors houseboat manufactured in 2006 or later, according to the documents.

Even then, Twin Anchors or Aramark, the houseboat vendor at Lake Powell, may have improved the exhaust system design after the Howeths were sickened.

One way to protect yourself against carbon monoxide poisoning from houseboat generators is to ask the rental agency, dealer or a mechanic whether the generator complies with standards established by the American Boat and Yacht Council.

But even that is no guarantee against suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning aboard a boat. It's important to know any vessel's exhaust systems, where carbon monoxide can accumulate and the best uses for carbon monoxide alarms.

— NC

Labels: FOIA