Pooler McDonalds Accident

Carbon Dioxide Poisoning in a Pooler, GA McDonalds Leads to 1 Dead and 9 Injured

A carbon dioxide leak last Wednesday at a McDonald's in Pooler, Georgia left one dead and nine hospitalized. Gas lines pumping carbon dioxide into the restaurant's soda machine broke, causing the gas to build up in the walls and leak into the women's restroom.

Two women were found unconscious in the restroom. They and eight others, including three firefighters, were admitted to a Savannah hospital. All but one were treated and released. Eighty-year-old Anne Felton of Ponte Verde, Florida died on Thursday.

Normally a harmless gas, carbon dioxide in large quantities can be deadly. Carbon dioxide poisoning, also known as hypercapnia or hypercarbia, is caused by high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. This is often the result of working in a poorly-circulated area or through faulty scuba equipment. If you or a loved one has suffered from carbon dioxide poisoning, contact the experienced injury attorneys at the Eichholz Law Firm today to explore your legal options.

Causes of Carbon Dioxide Poisoning

Carbon dioxide is continuously produced by human cells. Exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the air and the inability to expel the gas leads to poisoning. Some of the most common causes of carbon dioxide poisoning include:

• Rebreathing exhaled air, often caused by working in confined areas with poor air circulation; including mines, underground tunnels and shafts, and holds of ships.
• Breathing in areas of high levels of carbon dioxide; for example, areas near active volcanoes.
• Using faulty scuba equipment or not properly filtering carbon dioxide while diving.

Symptoms of Carbon Dioxide Poisoning

Signs of carbon dioxide poisoning range from mild to severe. The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of exposure and the length of time the victim was exposed to carbon dioxide. Symptoms include:

• Muscle Twitching
• Flushed Skin
• Reduced Neural Activity
• Headache
• High Blood Pressure
• Lethargy
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Elevated Rate of Cardiac Output
• Panic
• Convulsions
• Unconsciousness
• Death

Contact a Savannah Personal Injury Lawyer today

If you or a loved one has suffered from carbon dioxide poisoning through no fault of your own, you are not alone. Contact the attorneys at the Eichholz Law Firm today at 1-800-665-2131 for a free case evaluation.