We all know how frustrating snow removal and power outages can be, but winter storms can also present hidden dangers that are frequently overlooked. One of the dangers that can follow winter storms is carbon monoxide poisoning. Show
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous gas with no detectable odor. Whether you are trying to dig out your car after a snowstorm or using a backup generator during a frosty power outage, it is important to know the signs of CO poisoning and what you can do to keep your family safe. Safety tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning this winterFollow these rules to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide:
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoningEarly symptoms of exposure to CO, even after only breathing it for a short time, include:
Continued exposure to CO may result in:
Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide and lack of medical treatment may lead to serious and long-term effects – and may even be life-threatening. Is it the flu or carbon monoxide poisoning?As we find ourselves spending more time indoors and away from the cold, viral illnesses are likely to spread. Unfortunately, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can resemble the flu, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. If you are trying to determine if carbon monoxide poisoning is present, follow this guidance:
What to do when you suspect carbon monoxide poisoningIf you believe carbon monoxide may be affecting your family, immediately evacuate the affected area. Then, either call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222, or go to your nearest emergency department. Your gas or oil provider should be able to help you identify and remove any sources of CO contamination in your home. The Poison Control Center at CHOP is staffed by nurses, pharmacists, and physicians with special training in toxicology, and are available to help you free, 24 hours a day/7 days a week. How does carbon monoxide (CO) affect me?In a typical year, nearly 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning, usually in their own home or car. Many of those deaths happen during the winter months, when people are heating their homes and reducing the amount of outside ventilation. Even if CO levels are not high enough to be fatal, they can produce serious illness. Where does carbon monoxide come from?Carbon monoxide is produced by devices that burn fuels. Your furnace, water heater, stove, space heaters, fireplace, woodstove, charcoal grill, and dryer can be sources of CO, especially if they are not in good working condition or have been installed without proper ventilation. Vehicle exhaust fumes from attached garages also can become CO hazards. Using kerosene heaters or charcoal grills indoors, or running a car in a garage can cause CO levels to rise high enough to result in death or serious illness. How do I know if carbon monoxide is present?Unlike natural gas or LP gas, which have a characteristic odor added to them to alert you, carbon monoxide has no fumes and no color. We breathe in CO like normal air with no irritation to our nose or throats. Then, our blood cells attach with CO molecules instead of oxygen molecules, starving our organs from the oxygen they need. For these reasons, CO is called the silent killer. The best way to alert you and your family to unsafe levels of CO is to install a carbon monoxide detector. It works like a smoke alarm, sampling the air in your home and creating a loud alarm when levels of the gas are detected. It’s important to evacuate your home immediately when your CO alarm sounds. While there’s no risk of an explosion, as there would be with natural gas, the effects of CO in your blood are accumulative, and the longer you’re exposed to it the longer it takes to rid your body of its effects. What are some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?Most people with a mild exposure to carbon monoxide experience headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Unfortunately, the symptoms are easily overlooked because they are often flu-like. Medium exposure can cause you to experience a throbbing headache, drowsiness, disorientation, and an accelerated heart rate. Extreme exposure usually leads to unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory failure, coma, and eventually death. Too often, death from CO poisoning results with the victim simply falling asleep and never regaining consciousness. How do I protect myself and my family from carbon monoxide poisoning?Your garage
Your car
Your home
How do you get dangerous levels of carbon monoxide out of a person’s blood?The treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is high-dose oxygen. Using higher atmospheric pressure around the body can speed up the effectiveness of the high-dose oxygen treatment. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has the area’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, a capsule that uses a combination of high oxygen levels and high atmospheric pressure to safely and quickly remove dangerous levels of CO from the body. The Hyperbaric Medicine Facility, staffed 24-hours a day, is large enough for several members of a family to be treated at the same time. How can you tell if there is carbon monoxide in your house?Carbon monoxide gas is colourless and does not smell, so you cannot tell if it is around you.. headache.. dizziness.. feeling sick or being sick.. feeling weak.. confusion.. chest and muscle pain.. shortness of breath.. How can you tell if there is carbon monoxide without a detector?Here are some ways to identify potential carbon monoxide leaks:. Brownish or yellowish stains around appliances.. A pilot light that frequently goes out.. Burner flame appears yellow instead of clear blue (exception: natural gas fireplaces). No upward draft in chimney flue.. Stale-smelling air.. How do I know if my house smells like carbon monoxide?Carbon monoxide gas is odorless—it cannot be smelled. However, never ignore the “rotten egg” smell of natural gas. Try to find the source of the leak (often an unlit gas stove burner accidentally turned on while wiping down the stovetop). Call your gas company or fire dept.
How long does it take to show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?You may lose balance, vision and memory and even consciousness. This can happen within 2 hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. The smaller an animal or person is, the faster they'll be affected. Pets are often the first to show symptoms.
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