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Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Killer

Each year unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims hundreds of lives and sends thousands of people to the emergency room for treatment.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. It is known as "the silent killer." Because it is impossible to see, taste, or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill before you are aware it is in your home.

CO gas is produced by fuel-burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, kerosene heaters and motor vehicles.

Carbon monoxide poisonings usually occur in winter months when people use heating sources that may produce hazardous carbon monoxide levels. You can prevent this tragedy by preparing your home heating sources for winter, acting wisely in the event of a power outage and learning the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisonings.

Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning

At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• disorientation
• nausea/vomiting
• fatigue
• chest pains

The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health, and the concentration and length of exposure.

Medical experts believe that unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens, and people with heart or lung problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

You can protect yourself and your family by following a few easy steps.

• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.
• Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.
• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.
• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?

What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends on whether anyone is feeling ill or not.

If no one is feeling ill:

1. Silence the alarm.
2. Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace and fireplace).
3. Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows.
4. Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the possible CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:

1. Evacuate all occupants immediately.
2. Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their symptoms.
3. Call your local emergency number and when relaying information to the dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.
4. Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire department representative.
5. Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.

For More Information:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• U.S. Fire Administration