Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Prevention
Every year, nearly 500 people die in the U. S. from accidental CO
poisoning. Check or change the batteries in your CO detector every six months.
If you don't have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector, buy one
soon.
CO is
found in fumes produced by portable generators, stoves, lanterns, and gas
ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. CO from these sources can build up in
enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can
be poisoned and can die from breathing CO.
How to Recognize CO Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is often referenced as “The Silent Killer”
in that CO is an odorless, tasteless, invisible and colorless gas, which can cause sudden illness and death, is
produced any time a fossil fuel is burned.
The most
common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea,
vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been
drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.
Important CO Poisoning Prevention Tips:
·
Never use a gas range or
oven to heat a home.
- Check
the stove, heater, chimney and etc. for any fault.
·
Never leave the motor
running in a vehicle parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as
a garage.
·
Never run a generator,
pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or
other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the
equipment is professionally installed and vented. Keep vents and flues free of
debris, especially if winds are high. Flying debris can block ventilation
lines.
·
Never run a motor vehicle,
generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine less than 20 feet
from an open window, door, or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed
area.
·
Never use a charcoal grill,
hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.
·
If conditions are too hot
or too cold, seek shelter with friends or at a community shelter.
·
If CO poisoning is
suspected, go outside , an area free of CO, and then consult a health care
professional right away.
CO
poisoning is entirely preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by
acting wisely in case of a power outage and learning the symptoms of CO
poisoning.
