Since Dillon and Logan Dixey died while swimming off a houseboat in 2000, the Double Angel Foundation has made it a point to educate people about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. As ambassadors of the Foundation, Ken and Bambi Dixey led the crusade to raise the awareness of the dangers on houseboats.
Some of the more notable accomplishments included testifying at a Congressional panel hearing in Washington D.C., which eventually forced the Coast Guard to recall existing houseboats and led to a lawsuit to reinforce the recall.
Double Angel also has been featured on national news shows. Additionally, educational tapes were sent to the head coroners in each state in the U.S. encouraging them to test all drowning victims near boats for carbon monoxide poisoning. By properly identifying these incidents as drowning due to CO poisoning as opposed to mere drowning, there will be a greater awareness of the dangers and the hope for additional safety changes.
These efforts, which involved a variety of organizations that included the Coast Guard, National Park Service and houseboat manufacturers, resulted in positive changes to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Boat manufacturers now place warning signs on houseboats about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some boat manufacturers, including Kohler and Westerbeak, also produce a carbon monoxide free generator, which is 99% free of harmful exhaust.
Other Related Articles
Boaters: Take Note of These Tips to Protect You and Others From CO Posioning