Carbon Monoxide Safety

According to the CDC, accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills 430 people in the United States each year, with an additional 50,000 Americans visiting the emergency room with carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms.

When we turn on our furnaces, heaters, and generators in the colder months, the risk of CO poisoning increases, making winter a particularly dangerous season! Between 2010 and 2015, 36% of carbon monoxide deaths occurred in December, January, or February.

Protect Your Family From Deadly Carbon Monoxide This Winter

“[Carbon monoxide] is called the “silent killer” because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating,” according to the New York State Department of Health.

While CO poisoning poses a threat to anyone, it is particularly dangerous to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children. Thankfully, though, CO poisoning is preventable.

Know the Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

By knowing the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, you can keep your family safe and prevent serious illness or death. If you suspect that you or a member of your family has CO poisoning, call 911. It’s important to act quickly; one of the symptoms of CO poisoning is confusion, so your decision-making skills or ability to get help might diminish the longer you wait (New York State Department of Health).

According to the CDC: “The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.”

These aren’t the only symptoms of CO poisoning, however. At first, symptoms may feel similar to the flu. At the beginning stages of exposure, symptoms may also include “loss of muscle control, shortness of breath, visual changes, sleepiness, fluttering of the heart, and redness of the skin.”