Okay, youíre out on the ice now
Remember carbon monoxide can be a serious threat
By Barbara Brown and Danielle Strenke Carbon monoxide is the silent, but very serious, threat to ice fishermen who sometimes spend an entire day in their small fishing shacks hoping to hook the big one. But they may catch more than they bargain for if they are not careful about ventilating their fish houses. Propane and other types of heaters release carbon monoxide as a by-product of the burning process. The toxic gas can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, sleepiness and even unconsciousness and death. Rush City Fire Chief Bob Carlson and Harris Fire Chief John Pelant offered tips for decreasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carlson said fishermen need to recognize a ìgoodî versus ìbadî flame. He said good flames in propane heaters are larger and blue, while bad flames are smaller and yellow. Carlson said every fish house should be equipped with both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide monitor. Both should have battery back-ups and the carbon monoxide readers should be digital. Carlson said fisherfolk should not only read the owners manuals that come with the monitors, but they should take the paperwork with them into the fish house. That way, if they have a questions about what the readings mean or if they have concerns the monitor is not working, they have an easy reference. ìThe carbon monoxide detectors are just as important as smoke detectors,î Carlson said, ìespecially for those guys who are out on the ice all night.î If fishermen make plans to stay in their ice shack overnight, they should take frequent trips outside to get fresh air and make sure they can crack a window or door to allow oxygen to flow, Chief Pelant said. He said one of the top sources of carbon monoxide poisoning in fish houses is leaks in propane lines.
Pelant said fishermen can check for leaks by spraying the line with soapy water, turning on the gas and looking for bubbles. Another tip for fishermen is to light their propane lanterns outside the fish house, Pelant said. He said improper handling of gas lanterns is a leading cause of fish house fires. Fire and police vehicles are not allowed to go onto frozen lakes, Pelant said, so if a fish house catches on fire, there may be no hope for it. A carbon monoxide detector should be standard equipment in every fish house with a heater, according to Goodhue County educator Chuck Schwartau of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. ìA heater that consumes the oxygen in a house can turn the pleasure of ice fishing into tragedy,î Schwartau points out. ìBecause of the wide range of symptoms, prevention is a better option than diagnosis by symptom,î says Schwartau. Poorly vented wood or gas heaters are common causes of CO poisoning. However, a catalytic heater can be a cause that sometimes goes unrecognized. ìBecause catalytic heaters donít have a roaring, open flame, they may be forgotten as burners,î says Schwartau. ìActually they consume oxygen, just as does any other burning device.î Schwartau says a simple, battery-operated CO detector in the fish house could be the difference between a successful fishing trip and a family tragedy. He suggests it as a post-holiday gift for an ice fishing enthusiast. Hardware stores carry the detectors. ìIf you feel some of the symptoms and have any suspicion of CO poisoning, the first action to take is to get into fresh air,î says Schwartau. ìThen see a doctor immediately for treatment.î Don Westerman, an employee at Bohaty Hardware in Rush City, said carbon monoxide detectors for ice houses is a good idea. ìMost of those houses are so tight, some donít have windows,î he said. ìEven a small heater can quickly burn up all the oxygen.î He said despite the dangers of carbon monoxide in ice houses, he has not sold any detectors for use in an ice house. ìIíve heard of people dying in ice houses from carbon monoxide,î he said. ìEven if the stoves are vented out, there is still going to be carbon monoxide because it is burning the oxygen inside.î Local fisherman Rick Cukla of Rush City said he is very aware of the dangers from carbon monoxide. ìThat door is opened constantly,î he said. ìWhen I sleep out here I crack the window to make sure thereís enough air. But Iím aware it can happen.î Cukla does not have a carbon monoxide detector inside his ice house, where he has a propane heater and stove top.
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