Two men, boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning in boating incident on Lake Erie, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner rules

CLEVELAND — Two men and a boy died from carbon monoxide poisoning aboard a boat on Lake Erie Wednesday evening, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner said. Frank A. Opaskar, 76, of Avon Lake, Christopher Kedas, 45, of Huron, and Owen Kedas, 11, of Huron, died aboard the boat found circling near the Cleveland crib water intake off the shore of downtown Cleveland.Coast Guard officials arrived about 6 p.m. and entered the boat by breaking out a window. They discovered the three passengers unresponsive and a carbon monoxide detector sounding as they entered the boat. The medical examiner's office determined their deaths were an accident and suspected no foul play. The Coast Guard towed the boat back to U.S. Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor on East 9th Street near North Marginal Road. Paramedics arrived to treat the three passengers. Opaskar and Kedas were pronounced dead at the scene. Owen died at MetroHealth. Carbon monoxide poisoning on boats comprises a small number of annual boat-related deaths, according to the most recent data from the Coast Guard. In 2019, it affected 31 people aboard boats, and of those people, five of them died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that gas-powered boats and larger vessels with generators pose a potential carbon monoxide threat to passengers if not carefully vented. If the generator on larger boats vents toward the back of the boat, it poses a risk to people on the rear swim deck or water platform. The gas can build up above the water near the water platform. When carbon monoxide builds up in the space beneath the stern deck, it can kill someone in seconds. Traveling at slow speeds or idling in the water can cause a carbon monoxide buildup in the boat's cabin. TheCoast Guard said that one thing that makes carbon monoxide difficult to detect is that its symptoms mimic those attributed to seasickness or alcohol intoxication. Danny Hearns, owner of Mindful Marine Yacht in Cleveland, said having working carbon monoxide detectors onboard are working properly could make all the difference. "And you need to make sure the boat actually has (CO) detectors," he said. "I don't think (carbon monoxide) detectors were installed in boats until the late 70s early 80s. It's unfortunate. It's situations like this that make us realized how safe we really need to be." The CDC recommends a handful of precautions to help prevent a carbon monoxide buildup on your vessel: • Properly install and maintain all fuel-burning engines and appliances.• Educate all passengers about the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning.• Swim and play away from areas where engines vent their exhaust.• Watch children closely when they play on rear swim decks or water platforms.• Never block exhaust outlets. Blocking outlets can cause CO to build up in the cabin and cockpit areas–even when hatches, windows, portholes, and doors are closed.• Dock, beach, or anchor at least 20 feet away from the nearest boat that is running a generator or engine. Exhaust from a nearby vessel can send • CO into the cabin and cockpit of a boat. ©2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.