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Be
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Disaster Services
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Prevention
Prevention Fact Sheet
Carbon Monoxide (known by the chemical symbol CO) is a colorless and
practically odorless gas. It is poisonous to people and animals, because it
displaces oxygen in the blood. It is produced by the incomplete burning of
solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with natural gas,
liquefied petroleum (LP gas), oil, kerosene, coal, or wood may produce CO.
Burning charcoal produces CO. Running cars produce CO.
According to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, every year over 200 people in the United States die from CO
produced by fuel-burning appliances (furnaces, ranges, water heaters, room
heaters). Others die from CO produced while burning charcoal inside a home,
garage, vehicle or tent. Still others die from CO produced by cars left
running in attached garages. Several thousand people go to hospital emergency
rooms each year for treatment for CO poisoning.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Carbon Monoxide can have different affects
on people based on its concentration in the air that people breathe. Because
you can't smell, taste, or see it, you can not tell that CO gas is present.
The health effects of CO depend on the level of CO and length of exposure, as
well as each individual's health condition.
The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are
similar to the flu (but without fever). They include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Many people with CO poisoning mistake
their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed, which sometimes results in
tragic deaths.
Because CO replaces oxygen in the blood,
it can make people feel sleepy. Or, if they are asleep, it can prevent people
from waking up.
At higher concentrations, people can
experience impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion,
and nausea. In very high concentrations, CO poisoning can cause death.
Buy and Install CO detectors/alarms
The American Red Cross recommends that
everyone install CO detectors/alarms in homes and recreational vehicles.
- Before buying a CO Alarm, check to make sure
it is listed with Underwriter's Laboratories (UL), standard 2034, or
there is information on the package or owner's manual that says that the
detector/alarm meets the requirements of the IAS 6-96 standard.
- Install a CO detector/alarm in the hallway
near every separate sleeping area of the home. Make sure the
detector/alarm cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies. Follow
manufacturer's instructions regarding the specific location where to
install it. Avoid corners (where air does not circulate).
- CO detectors/alarms are available for boats
and recreational vehicles and should be used. The Recreation Vehicle
Industry Association requires CO detectors/alarms to be installed in
motor homes and in towable recreational vehicles that have a generator
or are prepped for a generator.
What can you do to prevent CO poisoning?
- Make sure appliances are installed according
to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes. Most appliances
should be installed by professionals. A carbon monoxide detector/alarm
can provide added protection, but is no substitute for proper use and
upkeep of appliances that can produce CO.
- Have the heating system (including chimneys
and vents) inspected and serviced annually. The inspector should also
check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete
disconnections, and loose connections.
- Only burn charcoal outdoors, never inside a
home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Do not use portable fuel-burning camping equipment
inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Always make sure to turn off any gas-powered
engine (car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, lawn mower, chain saw, or
generator) inside an attached garage or basement. Even if the garage
door is open, you can still be affected or killed by CO. If you must
test the engine, take it outdoors before starting it.
- Always refer to the owner's manual when
performing minor adjustments or servicing fuel-burning appliances, and
get help from a professional if you are unsure how to service such
equipment.
- Do not use gas appliances such as ranges,
ovens, or clothes dryers for heating your home.
- If you use a fuel-burning appliance for
approved indoor uses (such as a heater), make sure it is vented to the
outdoors following manufacturer's instructions. Do not use an unvented
fuel-burning appliance in any room with closed doors or windows or in
any room where people are sleeping.
- Install and use an exhaust fan vented to
outdoors over gas stoves.
- Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
- Choose properly sized wood-burning stoves that
are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on
all wood-burning stoves fit tightly.
- Have a trained professional inspect, clean,
and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys)
annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
What should you do if you experience symptoms of CO poisoning?
If you think you are experiencing any of
the symptoms of CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Open windows and
doors for more ventilation, turn off any combustion appliances, and leave
your home. Then call your fire department and report your symptoms. You could
lose consciousness and die if you do nothing. It is also important to contact
a doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Tell your doctor that you
suspect CO poisoning is causing your problems. Prompt medical attention is
important if you are experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning when you are
operating fuel-burning appliances. Before turning your fuel-burning
appliances back on, make sure a qualified serviceperson checks them for
malfunction.
What should you do when the CO
detector/alarm sounds?
Treat the alarm signal as a real emergency
each time. If the detector/alarm sounds and you are not experiencing any
symptoms described above, press the reset button. If the detector/alarm
continues to sound, call the fire department. Immediately leave your home
until a professional checks to find the reason why the detector/alarm
sounded, and any problems are fixed.
How to test a CO detector/alarm to make
sure it is working
Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Using a test button, some detectors/alarms test whether the circuitry as well
as the sensor which senses CO is working, while the test button on other
detectors only tests whether the circuitry is working. For those units which
test the circuitry only, some manufacturers sell separate test kits to help
the consumer test the CO sensor inside the alarm.
References
- "Carbon Monoxide Questions and
Answers" developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Bethesda , Maryland . CPSC Document #466.
- "Sources of Indoor Air Pollution - Carbon
Monoxide (CO)" developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, DC.
If you have further questions, please
contact your local Department of Public Health or local fire department.
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