Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It's generated when carbon or materials that contain carbon (such as gasoline, kerosene, natural gas or wood) are burned. When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it binds almost irreversibly to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells, displacing oxygen and making the cells unable to carry the oxygen your body needs. Carbon monoxide binds 200 times more strongly with hemoglobin than oxygen does, so small amounts of carbon monoxide in inhaled air can displace large amounts of oxygen in the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide also binds tightly with myoglobin in muscles, causing further problems. If you don't get away from the carbon monoxide, its effects can kill you. Unborn babies, infants, elderly people and people with anemia or a history of heart or respiratory disease are especially susceptible.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can come from exposure to improperly vented appliances that burn fuel (such as a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer or oven), automobile or lawn mower exhaust or smoke from fireplaces, wood or coal stoves, charcoal grills or space heaters. Carbon monoxide poisoning should be suspected when someone has symptoms or is unconscious in any situation where ventilation is poor and some type of fuel is being burned. It's possible to get carbon monoxide poisoning even inside a tent, where it may seem like there's plenty of ventilation.

What to Do

Because carbon monoxide (CO) has no smell, you may not know you are being exposed to it until you start to feel ill. The first symptoms of CO poisoning are mild: You may have a headache, dizziness or fatigue, any of which go away when you get fresh air. More serious symptoms are severe headache, confusion, agitation, nausea or vomiting, stupor/sleepiness and coma. If everyone in your household has these symptoms at the same time, or all symptoms go away when you get fresh air, it could be CO poisoning. Leave the home immediately if you or a family member has symptoms and have the house checked for CO leaks. Seek emergency help if someone is unconscious from CO poisoning. Persons with significant carbon monoxide poisoning may appear almost cherry red instead of having their normal skin color.

Self-Care Steps for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Get a carbon monoxide detector. These work the way smoke detectors do, to give you an early warning that there is carbon monoxide in your home. If you only have one, put it in or near your bedroom. If the alarm goes off, leave your home.

• If multiple members of the household are experiencing headache, nausea, confusion and fatigue, get out of the house and call to have it checked for carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Have your fuel-burning appliances, such as gas and oil furnaces, gas and wood fireplaces, space heaters, hot-water heaters, dryers and pool heaters, inspected at least once every two years.

• Don't leave a car running in the garage, even with the door open. Don't drive with the trunk or tailgate of your car open. Check the car's exhaust system regularly.

• Don't use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.

• Don't ever use a charcoal grill indoors.