National health experts say they're concerned the federal government is ignoring the potentially deadly problem of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The problem proved to be both deadly and real here in western Washington when the December storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents.

It started with portable generators and charcoal, and ended in death.

Local families were trying to stay warm and find a way to cook. In two days, ten people died and hundreds fell victim to carbon monoxide poisoning.

But Dr. Neil Hampson with the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine says they didn't have to.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning is largely preventable and we see prevention efforts as having a major impact on this sort of epidemic," he said.

Doctors, medics, communications experts gathered in Seattle on Friday. They showed off new equipment including a hyperbaric chamber, which is used to treat patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

During the December power outage, doctors used the chamber 70 times.

Doctors say the new equipment is now ready, but they say the tragedy is preventable.

"We need to focus funding on this problem. If you look at national funding for carbon monoxide, it is almost non-existent," said Hampson.

Hampson says the country spends millions of dollars on anthrax and small pox. But 500 die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

A representative of the National Centers for Disease Control agreed, saying money could help people buy detectors.

A mid-range carbon monoxide detector costs about $40, which is unaffordable to many without a subsidy program in place.

The Centers for Disease Control says North Dakota is the only state with a subsidy program in place for carbon monoxide detectors. The CDC also says the number of carbon monoxide poisonings in North Dakota has significantly dropped.