Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless and colorless gas. It's produced by appliances that burn gas, oil, kerosene, wood or wood products. If these appliances haven't been installed and maintained correctly, or if they're misused, carbon monoxide can build up inside the home to a dangerous, even deadly level.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, several thousand people are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year because of carbon monoxide poisoning. The number of actual cases, however, may be even higher. That's because symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic flu symptoms (Read about "Influenza"), which causes people to ignore them and hope they go away. These warning symptoms include:

• headache
• weakness
• dizziness
• nausea
• disorientation

Exposure to carbon monoxide can be especially threatening to infants or people with heart disease. (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease") If you suspect a build-up of carbon monoxide, leave the building right away and seek professional help.

Prevention of CO problems

You can reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by making sure heating and other appliances that use gas, wood, wood products, oil or kerosene are correctly installed and maintained. They must also be used correctly. Follow all building codes and instructions when installing such appliances. Have such appliances checked each year by a qualified technician. Have a professional check chimneys and heating units annually.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have these additional suggestions:

• Install and use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors over gas stoves.
• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
• Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.
• Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up your heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
• Do not idle the car inside the garage.
• Never use a gas range or oven for heating. Using a gas range or oven for heating can cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
• Never use a charcoal grill or a barbecue grill indoors. Using a grill indoors will cause a build up of CO inside your home, cabin, or camper.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning any kind of charcoal gives off CO.
• Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Using a gas camp stove indoors can cause CO to build up inside your home, cabin, or camper.
• Never use a generator inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window, door, or vent.

You should also be aware of warning signs of incorrect installation or function, including:

• inefficient heating
• unfamiliar odors or sounds when using an appliance
• increased condensation on the inside of windows

A good carbon monoxide detector can also be installed in the home as a further safeguard. Make sure you read the package label and follow instructions carefully on placement and maintenance of the detector.

And if the detector goes off, EPA says make sure it's the CO detector, and not the smoke detector. Check if anyone in the house has symptoms of CO poisoning. If they do, get them out of the house and get medical attention right away. Tell everyone you suspect CO poisoning. If no one has symptoms, the EPA suggests the following:

• air out the house, open doors and windows
• turn off any sources of CO like furnaces, ovens, hot water heaters, dryers, kerosene space heaters and any small engine
• have your appliances and chimneys checked by an expert

Many communities have free inspection programs available through the utility companies or fire departments. Contact your local fire department to find out if one is available in your area.

CO isn't just a danger at home. The CPSC says that about 30 people die each year from CO poisoning while camping. Portable camping heaters, lanterns and stoves all produce CO. If they aren't vented correctly out of tents, campers or vehicles CO can build up.

It's important not to ignore symptoms. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.