Carbon Monoxide (co) Safety

Salt Lake Valley Health Department -
www.slvhealth.org

What is CO? CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas resulting from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Gas ranges, unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air. Worn or poorly adjusted and maintained combustion devices (such as boilers or furnaces) can be significant sources of CO if the flue is improperly sized, blocked, disconnected, or leaking. Exhaust from buses, autos, trucks from attached garages and parking areas can also be CO sources.

CO is a poison that can cause sudden illness and/or death when breathed. Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than oxygen. When a body replaces oxygen with CO, especially in an enclosed place, people and animals are at a high risk of illness/death.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) identifies a key to preventing CO poisoning:
"In most cases of unintentional poisonings, victims did not realize that CO was being produced or that it was building up in the air being breathed. CO can be easily and inexpensively detected in the home - several inexpensive CO alarms are available. Consider placing such an alarm on each level of your home and in your bedroom." People who are sleeping or are intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

What are CO poisoning symptoms?

• Impaired vision, coordination, and reduced brain function (moderate concentrations).
• At high concentration, cause loss of consciousness.
• Symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms) may clear up when the victim is exposed to open air.

So...what should you do if you are experiencing CO poisoning symptoms?

• Get fresh air immediately.
• Exit the enclosed space NOW and seek prompt medical attention if you are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.

Common Sense Guidelines

• Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home. Nor should charcoal grills, hibachis, lantern or portable camping stoves be used inside a home, tent, car, camper, or any other enclosed space.
• Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed space (unless the equipment is professionally installed AND VENTED).
• Never leave a motor running in a closed garage.
• Never leave an unvented space heater unattended
• NEVER ignore an alarming CO detector/alarm.

Steps to reduce exposure to CO

1. Keep GAS APPLIANCES properly adjusted - repair leaks promptly.
2. Install and use exhaust fans over gas stoves vented to the outdoors.
3. Have gas heating appliances inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified service technician. (Furnaces, water heaters, gas dryers).
4. All fuel-burning appliances must be properly installed, maintained, and operated. (Including cars, furnaces, gas heaters, kerosene heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces, and wood stoves).
5. Space heaters: purchase vented space heaters when replacing unvented ones.
6. Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
7. Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
8. Check and clean fireplaces annually.
9. Woodstoves - choose properly sized stoves for the size of room being installed in - make sure it’s certified to meet EPA emission standards.
10. All doors on wood stoves must fit tightly.
11. Never idle motorized vehicles in an enclosed garage. Routinely inspect vehicle tailpipes for snow/debris blockage, and inspect regularly for defects.
12. Install a CO detector at home - they may be installed into a plug-in receptacle or mounted high on the wall. Make sure furniture or draperies are not covering CO alarms.
13. In your fireplace, is the flue blocked, leaking, or disconnected? CHECK IT OUT!
14. Additionally, before starting up fuel burning appliances have a qualified technician check them for malfunction. NOTE: CO detectors are not a replacement for proper use and maintenance of fuel burning appliances.

Let common sense be your guideline. Don’t become a CO fatality statistic!

Helpful Links

Center for Disease Control - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CDC - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet

CDC - Checklist for the Prevention of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

Consumer Product Safety Commission FAQ

EPA - A Few Words About CO Detectors

EOA - Sources of Indoor Air Pollution - Carbon Monoxide

Office of Air and Radiation page - "CO - How Carbon Monoxide Affects the Way We Live and Breathe"

Carbon Monoxide and the Nervous System. Raub, J. A., and V. A. Benignus. Carbon Monoxide and the Nervous System. NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS 26(8):925-940, (2002)

Carbon Monoxide Poisoining - A Public Health Perspective. Raub, J. A., M. Mathieunolf, N. B. Hampson, and S. R. Thom. Carbon Monoxide Poinsoning--a Public Health Perspective. TOXICOLOGY (145):1-14, (2000).

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