Exposing an Invisible Killer: The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

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Exposing=20 an Invisible Killer (PDF, 155 Kb)

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims = more=20 than 500 lives and sends another 15,000 people to hospital emergency = rooms for=20 treatment.¹

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) and the National = Association of=20 Home Builders (NAHB) would like you to know that there are simple steps = you can=20 take to protect yourself from deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

Understanding the Risk

What is carbon monoxide?=20: Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because = it is=20 impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you = before you=20 are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes = mild=20 effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include = headaches,=20 dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO = exposure can=20 vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health = and the=20 concentration and length of exposure.=20
Where does carbon monoxide come from?=20: CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, = charcoal=20 grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces and motor vehicles.=20
Who is at risk?=20: Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Medical experts believe that = unborn=20 babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or = lung=20 problems are at even greater risk for CO poisoning.

What Actions Do I Take if My Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off?

What you need to do if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off depends = on=20 whether anyone is feeling ill or not.=20

If no one is feeling ill:=20

Silence the alarm.=20
Turn off all appliances and sources of combustion (i.e. furnace = and=20 fireplace).=20
Ventilate the house with fresh air by opening doors and windows. =
Call a qualified professional to investigate the source of the = possible=20 CO buildup.

If illness is a factor:=20

Evacuate all occupants immediately.=20
Determine how many occupants are ill and determine their = symptoms.=20
Call your local emergency number and when relaying information = to the=20 dispatcher, include the number of people feeling ill.=20
Do not re-enter the home without the approval of a fire = department=20 representative.=20
Call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO.=20

Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning

Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning = signal=20 near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the = alarm=20 has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as = Underwriters=20 Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over = time and=20 are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would=20 experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be = experiencing=20 symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not = present.=20
Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, = furnaces,=20 venting and chimney systems at least once a year.=20
Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use = a=20 charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.=20
Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are = open,=20 normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably = prevent a=20 dangerous buildup of CO.=20
When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician = evaluate the=20 integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed = spaces=20 between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm = in your=20 home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

Links of Interest

¹ Study:=20 Unintentional Non-Fire-Related Carbon Monoxide Exposures =

Last Reviewed: June 2, 2008

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