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Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. 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, as do burning charcoal and running cars. Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty furnaces or fuel-fired heaters or can be trapped inside by a blocked chimney or flue. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 200 people in the United States die each year from CO poisoning associated with home fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters. Others die from CO produced while burning charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle or tent or from CO produced by cars left running in attached garages. Several thousand people go to hospital emergency rooms for treatment for CO poisoning. What are the symptoms of CO poisoning? Because you can’t smell, taste or see carbon monoxide, you can’t tell that is present. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of CO poisoning. They include: Ø Headache Ø Fatigue Ø Shortness of breath Ø Nausea Ø Dizziness
The initial symptoms are similar to the flu (but without the fever) and many people mistake their symptoms for the flu or are misdiagnosed by physicians, which sometimes results in tragic deaths. What should you do to prevent CO poisoning? Ø Install CO Detectors/Alarms: Both the American Red Cross and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend that everyone install CO Detectors/alarms in homes, boats and recreational vehicles. Properly working carbon monoxide detectors can provide an early warning to consumers before the deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level. Exposure to a low concentration over several hours can be as dangerous as exposure to high carbon monoxide levels for a few minutes - the new detectors will detect both conditions. Most of the devices cost under $100. Each home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector in the area outside individual bedrooms. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has said it believes that carbon monoxide detectors are as important to home safety as smoke detectors are. CO detectors/alarms should meet the requirements of the current UL standard 2034 or 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 cannot be covered up by furniture or draperies. Ø Make sure appliances are installed according to manufacturer's instructions and local building codes. Most appliances should be installed by professionals. Have your heating system (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually for proper operation and leakage. The inspector should also check chimneys and flues for blockages, corrosion, partial and complete disconnections, and loose connections. Ø Never burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent. and never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, |
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Preparedness Information |
