Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the "silent killer." It is a colorless, ordorless, and tasteless gas that is produced by combustion-burning appliances such as gas dryers, gas water heaters, vehicles, charcoal grills, and fuel-burning space heaters. Electric appliances are not combustion appliances and therefore do not not produce CO.
Breathing in low levels of CO can hurt your brain, heart, and other parts of your body. At high levels the brain is so short of oxygen that you cannot think clearly. You lose control of your muscles and may be unable to move to safety. High-level CO poisoning can cause loss of consciousness, coma, and death. People often confuse CO poisoning with the flu. That’s because it can feel like the flu.
Signs of low-level CO poisoning may include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Sleepiness
- Tightness in chest
- Trouble breathing
- Changes in senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste
If you have combustion appliances, it is extremely important that you have a carbon monoxide alarm. This alarm sounds when your home has dangerous levels of CO. Use carbon monoxide alarms near each sleeping area and on each floor of your home. Carbon monoxide alarms help protect you and your family from sickness or death. A good alarm will make a loud noise when CO levels become too high. There are plug-in and battery operated alarms. If you have a plug-in alarm, make certain it has a battery backup. You want one that will record peak levels of CO as well as dangerous/lethal levels. CO alarms should not be installed directly above or beside fuel-burning appliances.
If someone in your family shows signs of CO poisoning or if a CO alarm goes off:
- Get outside right away
- Call 911 or your local emergency number from a phone outside your home.
- Have your home checked out by a qualified heating or appliance contractor.
- Don’t go back into the home until all problems are fixed.
- See a doctor or a nurse right away if you have signs of CO poisoning.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed a fact sheet specifically designed to protect older adults and their caregivers from CO poisoning. You can access this fact sheet at http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/pcmp/pcmp_english_100-F-09-001.pdf.
For more information, read the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning fact sheet from the National Library of Medicine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/carbonmonoxidepoisoning.html.
