Five Things to Know about Carbon Monoxide
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas. On average, 439 people die each year from accidental CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thousands more are sent to emergency rooms for treatment.
- Most common sources of CO in homes include space heaters, chimney flues and malfunctioning gas-fired appliances, such as water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers. Other sources include fireplaces and oil and gas furnaces.
- Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are general enough to be confused with the flu. Some symptoms include nausea, fatigue, headache, dizziness and breathing difficulty.
- Carbon monoxide alarms are different from smoke alarms. You should have both installed, with working batteries, in your home.
- If a carbon monoxide alarm is activated, immediately open windows and doors for ventilation and call a qualified technician to identify the source.
|
|
