Miners Trapped In WV Coal Mine

[christine2448]

I hope that is what happened here, but I can't help but think about the likelihood of seizures prior to loss of consciousness. It's so sad they had time to contemplate their own demise. I can think of nothing more haunting

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning or other illnesses and can have a long term health risk if left unattended. Some of the symptoms are the following.[/font]

• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Shortness of breath[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Mild nausea [/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Mild headaches [/font]

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Moderate levels of CO exposure can cause death if the following symptoms persist for a long measure of time.[/font]

• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Headaches[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Dizziness[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Nausea[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Light-headedness[/font]

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]High levels of CO can be fatal causing death within minutes.[/font]

http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/symptoms.html

I didn't see anything about siezures..I was just happy thinking they just fell asleep and I read your post, it made me sad again, then I researched quickly and found the above link, I hope they did just fall asleep and didn't suffer with some of the symptoms mentioned.

I wonder how long they were alive?
Will we ever know that answer?
That would tell if they suffered or not IMO, it said in that article you can die quickly from CO poisoning, w/in minutes if there are high levels.
Does anyone know about CO enough or know where it was said the levels and how bad/not bad they were in the mine?

 

[indigomood]

http://www.gasdetection.com/TECH/co.html

scroll 1/4 way down the page to Emergency Medical Treatment

 

[christine2448]

http://www.gasdetection.com/TECH/co.html

scroll 1/4 way down the page to Emergency Medical Treatment

Ahhh, that was a good link indigo, thanks...and it does mention convulsions ect., ugh, I really wanted to believe it was quick and peaceful, now I'm not so sure.

 

[christine2448]

Rapidly fatal cases of carbon monoxide poisoning are characterized by congestion and hemorrhages in all organs. In longer-term, eventually fatal cases, the hypoxic lesions observed are related to the duration of posthypoxic unconsciousness. ... The maximal period of carbon monoxide induced posthypoxic unconsciousness compatible with complete neurological recovery is 21 hr in patients under 48 years of age and 11 hours in older patients. Complete recovery of mental functon was not observed when the carbon monoxide induced unconsciousness exceeded 15 hours in the older or 64 hours in the younger group.


I pulled this from Indigos link.....am I understanding that this is saying that complete mental recovery is possible if a patient is under 48 yrs old and was exposed/knocked out for max 21 hours?

This could explain why he was the only one still living?

 

[Liz]

Shep Smith on Fox just mentioned that the survivor is now in a coma. I'm not sure if this is 'new' news to you all or not, but fwiw.

 

[indigomood]

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms, food poisoning or other illnesses and can have a long term health risk if left unattended. Some of the symptoms are the following.[/font]

• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Shortness of breath[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Mild nausea [/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Mild headaches [/font]

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Moderate levels of CO exposure can cause death if the following symptoms persist for a long measure of time.[/font]

• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Headaches[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Dizziness[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Nausea[/font]
• [font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]Light-headedness[/font]

[font=Arial Narrow, serif, Courier New]High levels of CO can be fatal causing death within minutes.[/font]

http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/symptoms.html

I didn't see anything about siezures..I was just happy thinking they just fell asleep and I read your post, it made me sad again, then I researched quickly and found the above link, I hope they did just fall asleep and didn't suffer with some of the symptoms mentioned.

I wonder how long they were alive?
Will we ever know that answer?
That would tell if they suffered or not IMO, it said in that article you can die quickly from CO poisoning, w/in minutes if there are high levels.
Does anyone know about CO enough or know where it was said the levels and how bad/not bad they were in the mine?

Sorry to have made you sad, that was not my intention. It is a heartbreaking story

I thought the levels were very high near the area where the miners were found. They apparently lived long enough to abandon the vehicle, don the O2 packs, construct the barrier curtain and pen farewell letters. Hopefully after that it was quick.

I just wanted to shed some light on the other possible scenario... Seizures may occur when the carboxyhemoglobin reaches 50-60 %

SYMPTOMATOLOGY: 4. SEVERE HEADACHE, WEAKNESS, NAUSEA & VOMITING, DIZZINESS, DIMNESS OF VISION, CONFUSION (30-40% COHB). 5. INCREASING CONFUSION, SOMETIMES HALLUCINATIONS, SEVERE ATAXIA, ACCELERATED RESPIRATIONS...(40-50% COHB). 6. SYNCOPE OR COMA WITH INTERMITTENT CONVULSIONS, TACHYCARDIA WITH A WEAK PULSE...(50-60% COHB)... PALLOR OR CYANOSIS.7. INCREASING DEPTH OF COMA WITH INCONTINENCE OF URINE & FECES (60-70% COHB). 8. PROFOUND COMA WITH DEPRESSED OR ABSENT REFLEXES, A WEAK THREADY PULSE, SHALLOW AND IRREGULAR RESPIRATIONS AND COMPLETE QUIESCENCE (70-80% COHB). 9. RAPID DEATH FROM RESPIRATORY ARREST (ABOVE 80% COHB). 10. MISCELLANEOUS & ATYPICAL REACTIONS INCLUDE VARIOUS SKIN LESIONS, SWEATING, HEPATOMEGALY, HYPERPYREXIA, ALBUMINURIA, OLIGURIA, ANGINAL PAIN, & CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE...
[Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984.,p. III-98]**PEER REVIEWED**

http://www.gasdetection.com/TECH/co.html

 

[jilly]

I also totally agree that the press was also completely unprofessional here, Geraldo, being among the leaders of the wolfpack...

Can't help but notice too that the entire media is totally omitting any hint that they did anything wrong.

I remember years ago, Lindon Soles with CNN was on shift the nite Princess Diana died. He refused to say that the Princess had died until he got confirmation. Of course all the other outlets ran with it and left CNN behind. He was fired because of it.

 

[indigomood]

Ahhh, that was a good link indigo, thanks...and it does mention convulsions ect., ugh, I really wanted to believe it was quick and peaceful, now I'm not so sure.

You're welcome

a bit technical for the uninitiated but really has great info.

 

[christine2448]

Shep Smith on Fox just mentioned that the survivor is now in a coma. I'm not sure if this is 'new' news to you all or not, but fwiw.

Mine Survivor May Have Brain Damage

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The lone survivor of a coal mine explosion that killed 12 others was in a coma Thursday and may have brain damage, his doctor said.

Randal McCloy Jr., 26, remained in critical condition and was struggling with the effects of oxygen deprivation to his vital organs, including his brain, Dr. John Prescott told reporters at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Prescott said McCloy's coma was not medically induced and that drugs initially used to sedate him were wearing off, but "he is not waking up as we had hoped he would do."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_re_us/mine_explosion_survivor

 

[indigomood]

Mine Survivor May Have Brain Damage

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The lone survivor of a coal mine explosion that killed 12 others was in a coma Thursday and may have brain damage, his doctor said.

Randal McCloy Jr., 26, remained in critical condition and was struggling with the effects of oxygen deprivation to his vital organs, including his brain, Dr. John Prescott told reporters at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Prescott said McCloy's coma was not medically induced and that drugs initially used to sedate him were wearing off, but "he is not waking up as we had hoped he would do."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_re_us/mine_explosion_survivor

So sad

Thanks for the update

 

[Buzz Mills]

SNIP

Complete recovery of mental functon was not observed when the carbon monoxide induced unconsciousness exceeded 15 hours in the older or 64 hours in the younger group.

Being young, he has at least a good chance of recovering, as they mentioned the younger group as being under 48 years of age. They were rescued after 41 hours, and had breathable air for at least 7-8 hours (at the minimum), meaning that, at the longest, he was exposed to some level of carbon monoxide for 34 hours (probably much less, and we don't know the level of carbon monoxide in the area where they were). Keep praying for his full recovery.

 

[christine2448]

Keep praying for his full recovery.

Praying & Praying

 

[scandi]

I also heard the 1st Dr he saw at Ruby say she thinks the CO was working out of his system as they gave him oxygen in readying him for the move and his journey there. Her test was not with sophisticated equip, and even though we know he did have poisoning from CO, I'm hoping that it was minimal, or even her rudimentary test would have shown it, right?

The reason I think the CO was working in his system starting to destroy organs is that that same Dr stated he had bruising on his back and side - not sure if it was his side or arm. Acc. to Indigomood's post, these organs may bleed which I think would be lesions listed under atypical or misc reactions. Also he had rapid breathing.

I was quite surprised the Dr today stated he thought he did have some brain damage. And the reason he didn't wake up soon enough doesn't sound too scientific. They must be going by a brain scan, although we heard his brain scan before was normal. Don't quite know what to make of this!

Scandi

 

[nanandjim]

The one good thing about carbon monoxide - you don't suffer. You just get very tired and go to sleep - forever.

Here's a link to an article with notes from some of the miners verifying what you have said.


http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4323349

 

[Linda7NJ]

Brains are mysterious things. My best friend some 20 years ago was in a horrible car accident that left her in a coma, she was flown to a shock trauma unit where her condition was listed as gravely critical. The doctors didn't think she would make it through the next 48 hours and prepared her parents for that outcome. Last rights were given and permission for organ harvesting was given in the event she died. Doctors told her parents if she lived, she would be in a permanent vegetative state.

Her coma started out as a medically induced one, when the meds were stopped she didn't wake up from the induced coma as expected, she was in a real coma. it took her almost 4 weeks. When she did wake, she wasn't lucid, didn't recognize anyone.
Over time, about a year) she became whole. She's perfectly fine now. Although she has her memories intact she is no longer the same person.

 

[IdahoMom]

Can't help but notice too that the entire media is totally omitting any hint that they did anything wrong.

I remember years ago, Lindon Soles with CNN was on shift the nite Princess Diana died. He refused to say that the Princess had died until he got confirmation. Of course all the other outlets ran with it and left CNN behind. He was fired because of it.

I always liked him!

 

[indigomood]

*snipped*

I also heard the 1st Dr he saw at Ruby say she thinks the CO was working out of his system as they gave him oxygen in readying him for the move and his journey there. Her test was not with sophisticated equip, and even though we know he did have poisoning from CO, I'm hoping that it was minimal, or even her rudimentary test would have shown it, right?
Scandi

Hi Scandi,
http://www.gasdetection.com/TECH/co.html

apparently lab values for carboxyhemoglobin do not correlate well with the severity of poisoning, any patient found unconscious should be treated as a severe CO poisoning regardless of the COHb lab value.

I'm curious as to why hyberbaric O2 chamber was not indicated?

*snipped*or even her rudimentary test would have shown it, right? Scandi

eta - maybe because 100% O2 was admininstered in the field, the labs were not an accurate reading upon arrival to the first hospital

 

[scandi]

Thanks Indigo, I heard yesterday from his new Dr that the damage to his brain expected would be in the front part of the brain. Did you hear this? It must have shown up on a scan, right? I wish he would have clarified what made him believe that.

Scandi

 

[indigomood]

Thanks Indigo, I heard yesterday from his new Dr that the damage to his brain expected would be in the front part of the brain. Did you hear this? It must have shown up on a scan, right? I wish he would have clarified what made him believe that.

Scandi

I missed that Scandi... I need to tune in and catch up. Do you know when the next hospital presser will be? TIA

 

[Linda7NJ]

New First-Aid Method Could Prevent Brain Damage After Carbon Monoxide Exposure

http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/PrintPrint/877E32BC1212B2E085256C84006E1A99

very interesting. It sounds as if the standard care actually could have made him worse.

I am wondering why no hyperbaric chamber too??