Carbon monoxide is a killer; know these warning signs

By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times

December 28, 2010, 6:02 p.m.

Carbon monoxide gas can kill quickly and without warning. Bodies found in a Baltimore apartment building and a Florida motel underscore the tragedy of accidental carbon monoxide poisonings that claim hundreds of American lives each year.

This Baltimore Sun story explains the Tuesday incident: "Chief Kevin Cartwright, a city fire department spokesman, said that two people were pronounced dead on the scene and three victims, including a child, were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment." Read the full story here.

Similarly, five teens were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning Monday in a Florida motel room, this story says.

The EPA begins its fact sheet on protecting your family and yourself from this deadly gas: "You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe. Practice the DO's and DON'Ts of carbon monoxide."

Here's what you need to know to stay safe. Copyright © 2010, Los Angeles Times

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CO Poisoning Symptoms

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning.

At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time.

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.

DO Be prepared to answer the following questions for the doctor:

* 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 appliances lately? Are you certain they are working properly?

First, don’t let buying a CO detector lull you into a false sense of security.

However, it is important for you to know that the technology of CO detectors is still developing, that there are several types on the market, and that CO Detectors are not generally considered to be as reliable as the smoke detectors found in homes today.

Some CO detectors have been laboratory tested, and their performance varied. Some performed well, other CO Detectors failed to alarm even at very high CO levels, and still others alarmed even at very low levels that don’t pose any immediate health risk. And unlike a smoke detector, where you can easily confirm the cause of the alarm, CO is invisible and odorless, so it’s harder to tell if an alarm is false or a real emergency.