Healthy Communities

By Virginia Zombek

(Wampsville, NY – Jan. 2014) The time to be vigilant about indoor air safety is now as most hospitalizations for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning occur in the colder months of the year.  CO produced by poorly vented heating appliances or idling cars in garages and other enclosed places have sickened and killed persons.

In snow accumulation areas, an idling car with its exhaust pipe stuck in a snowbank can quickly generate CO levels that can overcome an unsuspecting passenger.  Be aware of the symptoms and sources of CO, and make it your goal to prevent CO poisoning in your home.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas. You can’t taste it or smell it, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. It can prevent the body from getting oxygen. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.

Each year about 200 people in New York State are hospitalized and around 55 die because of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.  CO poisoning most commonly occurs when generators and fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters and fireplaces are improperly used or incorrectly vented. A full third of the CO poisoning deaths across the state are a result of fires, as built-up CO levels during fires can cause people to lose consciousness, making escape impossible.

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning.  At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, sleepy, weak, nauseated, or faint. Ask yourself these questions to determine if you might be experiencing CO symptoms:

• Do your symptoms occur only in the house? Do they disappear or decrease when you leave home and reappear when you return?
• Is anyone else in your household complaining of similar symptoms? Did everyone’s symptoms appear about the same time?
• Are you using any fuel-burning appliances in the home?
• Has anyone inspected your fuel-burning appliances lately? Are you certain they are working efficiently and vented properly?

Loss of consciousness or death can result if high levels of CO are present.  Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer-term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.  Visit http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/QuietKiller  for a short video and more prevention tips.

Play it safe.  If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning:

• Get fresh air immediately.  Open doors and windows, and leave the building.
• Call the local fire department or contact your heating fuel provider to check on your heating system and appliances.
• Call 911 or go to an emergency room and tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning.

Prevention is the key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning, so keep your family safe and do these things:

• Choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed and vented, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• Schedule annual maintenance of your home heating systems, including oil and gas furnaces, fireplaces, gas and non-electric water heaters. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are properly connected, vented, and maintained in good condition.

Be sure to install a CO monitor on all floors with bedrooms. CO alarms are required in residences in NYS per Amanda’s Law. For more on correct placement of CO alarms, visit or call your local fire department.

• Only operate portable generators outdoors and keep them at least 25 feet from your                    house.
• Never use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.

Read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. Make sure all supplemental space heaters are properly installed and operated. For more safety information on supplemental space heaters, go to www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/heaters/

Contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) for more information on how to reduce your risks from CO and other combustion gases and particles.  The Madison County Health Department website below has several resources listed for you at the Carbon Monoxide information page.

Virginia Zombek is a public health educator for the Madison County Department of Health.