Where does carbon monoxide come from? Carbon monoxide is produced by devices that burn fuels. Vehicle exhaust fumes from attached garages also can become CO hazards. How do I know if carbon monoxide is present? For these reasons, CO is called the silent killer. What are some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? How do I protect myself and my family from carbon monoxide poisoning?
Your garage Always back your car out of the garage to let it warm up. Never leave it running in the confined space of a garage, particularly if the garage is attached to the home. Never run lawnmowers, snowblowers, or other gas-powered engines in confined areas like garages or sheds. Never use ovens or grills to heat your home or garage.
What makes this gas so dangerous is that when you breathe it, it replaces the oxygen in your blood. Without oxygen, cells throughout the body die, and the organs stop working. You can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. But if you breathe too much of it, it can become deadly within minutes. So be sure you know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, what to do if you have the symptoms, and how to keep it from happening.
Carbon monoxide can come from any source that burns fuel. Common sources are cars, fireplaces, powerboats, wood stoves, kerosene space heaters, charcoal grills, and gas appliances such as water heaters, ovens, and dryers.
Usually they cause no problems. Trouble comes when:. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:. As carbon monoxide builds up in your blood , symptoms get worse and may include:. If you have symptoms that you think could be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the area right away, and call or go to the emergency room.
If you keep breathing the fumes, you may pass out and die. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur suddenly or over a long period of time. Breathing low levels of carbon monoxide over a long period can cause severe heart problems and brain damage.
See a doctor if:. It can be hard to know if you have carbon monoxide poisoning. The same symptoms can be caused by flu or other problems. In the winter months, doctors may suspect carbon monoxide poisoning in people who complain of severe headache, nausea, or dizziness. This is especially true if other household members or co-workers have the same symptoms. Even pets in the home may get sick. If your doctor suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, he or she can order a blood test that measures the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood.
You may have other blood tests to check your overall health and to look for problems caused by carbon monoxide. The best treatment is oxygen therapy. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Frequently Asked Questions. Those at high risk include young children, older adults, people with lung or heart disease, people who are at high altitudes, and smokers.
Carbon monoxide can harm a fetus unborn baby still in the womb. Animals can also be poisoned by carbon monoxide. People who have pets at home may notice that their animals become weak or unresponsive from carbon monoxide exposure. Often the pets will get sick before humans. Since many of these symptoms can occur with viral illnesses, carbon monoxide poisoning is often confused with these conditions.
This can lead to a delay in getting help. If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air. Seek immediate medical right away. Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Place an additional detector near any major gas-burning appliances such as a furnace or water heater.
Many carbon monoxide poisonings occur in the winter months when furnaces, gas fireplaces, and portable heaters are being used and windows are closed. Have heaters and gas-burning appliances regularly inspected to make sure they are safe to use.
Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number.
You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention.
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