Low levels of CO in your home can cause chronic headaches, mild naseau, and shortness of breath. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional poisoning and death in the United States. Carbon monoxide is often referenced as “the silent killer” because it can’t be seen or smelled, but at high levelsb it can kill a person in minutes. Moderate levels of CO can cause you or your family to experience severe headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, nausea, or fainting. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning,or other illnesses, you may not recognize that CO poisoning could be the cause.
CO is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene,
wood or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn, such as furnaces, boilers water heaters, and stoves fuel are installed, maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with anemia or with history of heart of respiratory disease can be especially vulnerable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that non-fire-related CO poisoning is responsible for approximately 15,000 emergency department visits and nearly 500 deaths annually in the United States. These dangers, however, are entirely preventable. Read on to see how you can protect yourself and your family.
Download a copy of the
Carbon Monoxide Safety & Prevention brochure
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