Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide or CO is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe.

CO poisoning symptoms

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, mild headaches and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

• Don’t idle the car in a garage — even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
• Don’t use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
• Don’t ever use a charcoal grill indoors — even in a fireplace.
• Don’t sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
• Don’t use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
• Don’t ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.