Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas and is produced whenever any fuel is burned, including gas, oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, and wood. CO is the leading cause of unintentional poisoning in the United States and kills approximately 200 people every year, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. Three-quarters of CO poisonings happen in homes, and the most common source is home heating systems. Every year, approximately 140 people in Maine go to the hospital emergency departments because of carbon monoxide.

Warning signs of CO poisoning are flu-like symptoms without fever, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. CO poisoning can also result in coma and death.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Get the heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

• Don't use a gas-powered generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gas or charcoal-burning device inside the home, basement, or garage or near a window or door.

• Generators should be placed outdoors in a well-ventilated location more than 15 feet from the home when running.

• Don't run a car, truck or any other motor inside a garage or other enclosed space, even if a door is left open.
  

• Don't try to heat the house with a gas stove, oven, or clothes dryer.

• Use kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated room, by either keeping doors to other rooms open or keeping a window open at least one inch. Use only K-1 grade fuel in kerosene heaters and follow instructions for setting the wick height.

• Keep chimney flue and a window open when burning decorative gas fireplace logs as a heat source.

• Make sure to have a CO detector with a battery back-up in the home near where people sleep. Check or replace the battery when changing the time on your clocks each spring and fall. Buy an alarm at most hardware stores or stores that sell smoke detectors. By law, all rental units must have a CO alarm. Talk to the landlord if there is not one in the apartment or rental house.

• Recognize the early symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath.

• If the CO alarm goes off, get out of the building right away and call 911. Seek medical attention by contacting either the Northern New England Poison Center (800-222-1222) or a health care provider if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous. Stay out of the building until the fire department says it is safe.

For more information:

• www.maineprepares.com

• CO Information from US CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/co/Default.htm

• CO Information from US EPA: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html

• FAQ from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html