Silence of Sarandas’ Nightingale It has been a decade since Anita Bitri was found dead along with mom and daughter in her Staten Island home on October 19, 2004 from carbon monoxide poisoning. Anita had been one of the most pioneering and upcoming figures in Albanian-American pop music. From her early years of singing along her hometown overlooking the blue waters of the Ionian sea she displayed tremendous passion for her love of music and being Albanian. Even as a community mourns this pop-icon a decade later I am reminded of the dangers this insidious killer poses to families as the weather becomes colder and people are forced to remain indoor more. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission nearly one hundred seventy people in the United States die every year as a result of carbon monoxide toxicity. Carbon monoxide is a deadly colorless and odorless gas which forms as a result of incomplete burning of common fuels like propane and kerosene often used in furnaces and appliances such as ranges, room heaters, and grills. Carbon monoxide poisoning usually results when there is inadequate ventilation. In the Bitri family’s case exhaust vents were plugged with plastic to facilitate renovations being done at their home at the time. This can lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide building up leading to poisoning. Once carbon monoxide levels become toxic symptoms can be as subtle as headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and eventually may progress to loss of consciousness and death. In simple scientific terms the body is unable to bond oxygen to hemoglobin since it is already occupied with carbon monoxide molecules which have a stronger affinity for hemoglobin. While we still mourn a sorely missed member of our artistic community who fell victim to this killer we can learn a valuable lesson from this tragedy to prevent future ones. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented. There are various preventative measures and devices we can use to protect ourselves. Carbon monoxide alarms have been become mandatory and should be installed and periodically checked. They are reliable and are designed to protect us from potentially life threatening situations. Additionally, certain behaviors such as improperly installing gas burning appliances, using stoves to heat up homes, blocking vents, and burning charcoal inside your home should be avoided. However, even with the best of measures carbon monoxide can still build up and it is important to know what to do if you are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Eliminating the amount of exposure is crucial. Immediately going outside to fresh air should be the first step since carbon monoxide levels could build up rapidly causing loss of consciousness and death. Alternative electric powered heating and cooking appliances can be used instead to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide toxicity. Next, it is important to seek medical care immediately by alerting the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), calling your doctor, or going to your nearest Emergency Department. Moreover, providing your doctor with a detailed history including possible history of carbon monoxide exposure is crucial to helping the physician make the diagnosis and avoid unnecessary delay in treatment. Your healthcare provider will often make the diagnosis from obtaining a detailed history and performing a thorough physical examination and is confirmed by measuring carbon monoxide levels in the blood directly since indirect measures such as pulse oximeters can be inaccurate. In remembering this tragedy of a talented young Albanian-American artist and her family we also memorialize her reminding ourselves of her untimely departure and remember the joy her artistic talent brought us all. While the nightingale has left us her song still is very much vibrant and remains with us. -Ismet Lukolic, MD
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:48:59 +0000
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