Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, the Silent Danger in Your Home

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious health risk that can strike without warning, especially during the colder months. Gas heating systems, the most popular source of residential fuel in Wyoming, are one of the most common causes of carbon monoxide leaks. This odorless, colorless gas can cause severe health issues or even death if left undetected. Learn to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to prevent it from happening in your home.

What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a toxic gas. Unlike its chemical relative carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide is not a normal part of the air you breathe in or exhale. Instead, carbon monoxide is produced when you burn carbon-based fuels such as gas, oil, wood, and coal. Unlike smoke or exhaust, carbon monoxide is impossible to see, taste, or smell, which is why it’s sometimes called a “silent killer.”

When you inhale carbon monoxide, the molecules bind to hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Hemoglobin normally helps carry oxygen throughout your body, but when CO attaches to it, it can’t carry oxygen like normal. This lack of oxygen can make you feel ill, which is considered carbon monoxide poisoning.

It is rare for people to die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the U.S., but it still kills around 400 people each year. Around 100,000 people get sick enough from carbon monoxide poisoning to need a trip to the emergency room.

What Causes Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide exposure typically happens in enclosed spaces where fuel-burning appliances are used without proper ventilation. Common sources include:

• Charcoal grills used indoors
• Faulty furnaces or boilers
• Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves
• Fuel-burning space heaters
• Gas stoves and ovens without proper venting
• Running vehicles in attached garages
• Portable generators used indoors or near windows

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can vary, depending on how much carbon monoxide is in the space. Common signs of illness include:

• Chest pain
• Clumsiness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Impaired vision
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

As these symptoms are similar to numerous other illnesses, carbon monoxide poisoning may not be the first thing you think of. But two common warning signs suggest CO poisoning:

• If your symptoms improve when you leave the affected area and worsen when you return
• If multiple people in the same household are experiencing similar symptoms at the same time

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Fortunately, it is often easy to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. One effective way to do so is to install carbon monoxide detectors. These simple, cost-effective tools will alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide. Many are now combined with smoke detectors, allowing a single device to do double duty.

You should place at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas. If your detectors are wired to the electrical supply, ensure they have battery backup in case of power outages.

Other things you can do to lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• Avoid indoor use of outdoor equipment. Never use grills, portable generators, camp stoves, or other fuel-burning equipment designed for outdoor use inside your home or garage.
• Maintain your appliances and HVAC system. Have all fuel-burning appliances, including your heating system, inspected annually by a qualified technician.
• Never run vehicles in enclosed spaces. Always back your car out of the garage before letting it idle, and never use a gas-powered engine in an enclosed area.
• Ventilate your home. Never use gas appliances or fuel-burning space heaters in enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation. Keep all vents, flues, and chimneys clear of snow, leaves, and other debris to ensure proper ventilation.

If you have gas appliances, consider swapping them out for electric versions when it’s time to replace them.

What to Do if You Suspect Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, take these immediate steps:

• Leave the affected area immediately and move to an open outdoor space with fresh air. If there is time, turn off any gas appliances or heaters.
• If you think an appliance is leaking gas, call 911 right away.
• Do not re-enter the affected area until emergency responders declare it safe.
• Seek medical attention, because even if symptoms seem mild, it's crucial to get checked by a medical professional.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning typically involves breathing pure oxygen to help your body replace the carbon monoxide-saturated hemoglobin. With prompt treatment, symptoms usually go away within a few hours. In severe cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be necessary. This involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber to speed up the removal of carbon monoxide from your blood.

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, visit the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County emergency department promptly.