Changing your clock means time to change the batteries
I love the annual time change, when we get to “fall” back. That means an extra hour to sleep – and fans had a little more time to get to the track at Talladega (especially helpful since Halloween was the night before). But, hopefully, fans use both the fall and the spring mark of Daylight Savings Time as a reminder to do something else … change the batteries in the carbon monoxide detectors located in their houses and campers.
What does this have to do with NASCAR? Plenty. Carbon monoxide is produced by, among other things, car engines, charcoal grills, portable heaters, generators and even camp stoves – essentially things we as fans use when we party in the infield or even tailgate outside the track.
The odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States (healthline.com). As we breathe in carbon monoxide, oxygen in the bloodstream is replaced by the poison. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning or sickness are long and varied but include things such as headache, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, rapid breathing, even blue skin and lips.
Jeff Groom, a part-time medic and full-time firefighter from Pauling County, Ga., has worked his share of NASCAR races and seen firsthand the effects of carbon monoxide.
“At every race, there is always someone who needs to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. It is important to have a carbon monoxide detector in your camper and home. Check those batteries twice a year,” Groom said.
Groom’s warning struck a note with me, as I couldn’t recall when, or even if, I’d ever checked the carbon monoxide detector in our fifth wheel camper, which uses propane to fuel the stove and heat the cabin. I replaced the batteries as soon as I returned home.
Common sense goes a long way in preventing carbon monoxide poisoning at the track. If pitching a tent before the big race, be careful about portable heaters (especially now that it’s getting a bit chilly) within the confined space. Use grills in open areas. If you’re feeling sick, don’t take any chances – move into some fresh air and seek first aid. And next spring, when Daylight Savings Time rolls around, don’t forget to once again change the batteries in all your carbon monoxide detectors.
