Innovative Academic-Retail Partnership for Carbon Monoxide Intervention Funding

Purpose: With more than 20,000 annual exposures, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the number one cause of poison related death in the United States, with more than 20,000 annual exposures (Iqbal, Clower, King, Bell, & Yip, 2012). A CO monitor is the only means of detecting the presence of this silent, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas (Hampson & Weaver, 2011). The majority of homes in South Carolina (SC) do not have CO monitors, nor do emergency medical services (EMS) workers have portable, personal CO monitors, leaving a large segment of the SC population at risk. To address this public health issue, we developed a unique academic-retailer partnership in collaboration with the SC CO Safety Consortium (SCCOSC). We developed a partnership consisting of nursing researchers, public service associations, a non-profit foundation, and other community partners to conduct a multi-level study aimed at addressing CO morbidity and mortality through increased access to CO alarms. Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was the non-traditional funding source for this nursing research.

Methods(s): The aims of this project were to assess the effectiveness of a community partnership in 1) extending CO alarm coverage in the SC Midlands; and 2) providing portable CO alarms for EMS workers throughout SC. SCCOSC partners installed over 1200 CO alarms in private residences in 7 SC Midlands region cities, along with providing an educational intervention. We conducted follow-up surveys 3-4 months post-installation.

Results: Aim 1: At follow-up, 100% of those surveyed still had the working CO alarm and >70% could state common symptoms of CO exposure, sources of CO production in their homes, and the best course of action if the alarm sounded. Aim 2: Responding to initial grant funding, the SC EMS director provided additional monies; total funding was sufficient to provide 225 portable CO monitors, or one monitor per EMS response vehicle in SC. Monitors were distributed in 2016; prospective data collection using the EMS Performance Improvement Center (EMSPIC) database is underway.

Conclusion: We will be able to track EMS post-intervention data through the EMSPIC database in conjunction with SC EMS. At least 2 families have been saved due to alarms placed during blitz activities. Partnerships such as this academic-retailer collaboration can be an innovative means of funding effective, multi-level interventions.