California Poison Control System Offers 7 Tips
to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning this Winter
Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen any time of the year, but there is a higher risk for this “silent killer” during the fall and winter, California Poison Control System (CPCS) reminds California residents.
Each year, accidental carbon monoxide poisoning sends more than 100,000 people in the U.S. to the ER, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CO, the chemical formula for carbon monoxide, can easily and quickly build up indoors, poisoning any person or animal that breathes it. It is produced whenever fuel is burned in stoves, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces.
A very common source of carbon monoxide in homes is unvented portable generators. Instead of venting the gases it makes outdoors, the gas is released into the room. USAFacts reports that the use of portable generators is associated with 40 percent of carbon monoxide (CO) deaths related to consumer products since 2009.
“Anyone exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning is in a life-threatening emergency,” says Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS. “Carbon monoxide is insidious, and people don’t realize that they are being poisoned. It’s a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas produced from burning fuel and totally undetectable to the human senses.”
If a detector goes off, assume that a real danger is present, and get all people and pets out of the structure immediately and into fresh air. Call 911 and seek medical help right away. Do not re-enter until a professional declares it safe.
Preventing CO Poisoning:
- Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home near sleeping areas. Be sure to regularly check or change the batteries in it to ensure it is functioning properly.
- Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances inspected by a qualified technician every year prior to turning the heat on when winter begins.
- Never try to heat your home by turning on the oven or clothes dryer and leaving the door open.
- Make sure chimneys and vents are not blocked with tarps, debris, or snowfall.
- Never leave the motor running in your vehicle when it is parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage.
- Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.
- Do not cover the bottom of natural gas or propane ovens with aluminum foil.
To learn more about prevention and the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning see this CPCS video: https://youtu.be/3BT_hDb4uqE
