Carbon monoxide (CO) is referred to as the silent killer because it is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas produced by the incomplete burning of fuels such as gas, wood, natural gas, propane, oil and methane.
CO can accumulate due to faulty equipment or lack of functioning venting systems to remove CO safely to the outside. High levels of CO can cause unconsciousness and death within minutes.
Symptoms of CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms including shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light-headedness or headaches.
To keep safe, install CO alarms in your home in a central location near sleeping areas. Test your CO alarms at least once a month. CO alarms are NOT substitutes for smoke alarms. Have both of these safety alarms in your home. Have fuel burning equipment – furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and chimneys – inspected annually by a professional before cold weather months. When using a fireplace, make sure that the flue is open for proper ventilation. And never, ever use your stove or oven to heat your home.
Other safety tips include:
- Never run a vehicle, generator, or other fueled engine inside your garage even if the garage door is open. If you need to warm up your vehicle, remove it from the garage after starting it.
- Only use barbeque grills outside. Never use them inside your home or garage.
- If your CO alarm goes off – immediately leave your home and go to a location with fresh air and call 911. Remain outside until the fire department arrives and your home is deemed safe to reenter.
- If the audible trouble signal sounds on your CO alarm, check for low batteries and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
