What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. Because you can't see, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's there. At lower levels of exposure, carbon monoxide causes health problems.

Everyone is at risk for for carbon monoxide poisoning. Medical experts believe, however, that some individuals are more vulnerable to poisoning such as unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with heart or lung problems.

The great danger of carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodtstream, which normally carries life-giving oxygen to cells and tissue. As even small amounts are breathed in, carbon monoxide quickly bonds with hemoglobin in the blood, displacing the oxygen that organs need to function.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to symptoms of the flu, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion and irritability. As levels of CO increase, vomiting, loss of consciousness and eventually brain damage or death can result.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. If you do not have one, it is important that you purchase one as soon as you can. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to be sure you place the detector in a good location. Be sure to check the batteries as often or more often then what the manufacturer recommends.

CO is a product of cumbustion. In our homes the sources of CO include gas water heaters, gas furnaces, oil burners, wood burning stoves and even automobiles (A car left running in an attached garage can easily emit CO which will enter the living area even if the door between the home and garage is closed.) Problems can be created by incomplete combustion (if the burners/furnaces are not working properly,) blocked exhausts/chimneys, leaks in exhaust systems, lack of ventilation, etc. These are issues to address in addition to purchasing a CO detector.

If your detector activates, you should dial 911 and the appropriate emergency services personel will be dispatched. You will also want to evacuate your home and wait outside until the emergency personel arrive. Please do not take carbon monoxide lightly, it really can kill.