Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
By Mayo Clinic staff
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. Too much
carbon monoxide in the air you breathe can greatly diminish your ability
to absorb of oxygen, leading to serious — and potentially fatal — tissue
damage. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of unintentional
death from poison.
Carbon monoxide is produced by appliances and other devices that produce
combustion fumes, such as those that burn gas or other petroleum
products, wood and other fuels. The danger occurs when too much carbon
monoxide accumulates in a contained, poorly ventilated space. Simple
precautions can save your life.
Although the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can be subtle, the
condition is a life-threatening medical emergency. Get immediate care
for anyone who may have carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:
- Dull headache, the most common early symptom
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Impaired judgment
- Loss of consciousness
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous for people who
are sleeping or intoxicated. The fumes may be fatal before anyone
realizes there's a problem.
If you suspect you've been exposed to carbon monoxide, get into fresh
air immediately and seek emergency medical care. If possible, open
windows and doors on the way out of the house.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by inhaling combustion fumes. When
there's too much carbon monoxide in the air, your body replaces the
oxygen in the hemoglobin of your red blood cells with carbon monoxide.
This keeps life-sustaining oxygen from reaching your tissues and organs.
Various appliances fueled by wood or gas produce carbon monoxide,
including:
- Fuel-burning space heaters
- Furnaces
- Charcoal grills
- Cooking ranges
- Water heaters
- Fireplaces
- Portable generators, including those often used on houseboats
- Wood-burning stoves
- Car and truck engines
Normally the amount of carbon monoxide produced by these sources
isn't cause for concern. But if appliances aren't kept in good working
order or if they're used in a closed or partially closed space — such as
using a charcoal grill indoors or running your car in a closed garage —
the carbon monoxide can build to dangerous levels. Even swimming behind
a motorboat or riding in the back of an enclosed pickup truck can be
dangerous.
Smoke inhalation during a fire also can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Simple precautions can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Consider
the following:
Invest in carbon monoxide detectors. Install a carbon monoxide
detector on every floor or level of your home. Install additional
detectors outside individual bedrooms. Check the batteries every time
you check your smoke detector batteries — at least twice a year. If the
alarm sounds, leave the house and call the fire department or local
utility company from a nearby phone.
Open the garage door before starting your car. Never run your
car in a closed garage. If you have an attached garage, keep the garage
door open and the door to the house firmly closed while the car is
running. Remove snow or other debris from the tailpipe before using the
car.
Use gas appliances as recommended. Never use a gas stove or
oven to heat your home. Use portable gas camp stoves only outdoors. Use
fuel-burning space heaters only when someone is awake to monitor them
and doors or windows are open to provide fresh air. Don't run a
generator in an enclosed space, such as the basement or garage.
Keep your gas appliances and fireplace in good repair. Make
sure your gas appliances are properly vented. Clean your fireplace
chimney and flue every year. Ask your utility company about yearly
checkups for all gas appliances, including your furnace.
If carbon monoxide poisoning has occurred in your home, it's critical to
find and repair the source of the carbon monoxide before you return.
Your local fire department or utility company can help.
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