KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The return of cold winter temperatures and the potential of power outages brings with it the threat of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.
“Carbon monoxide does not have a tell-tale ‘smell of smoke’ so it can take the life of a healthy person without warning,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “As the mercury drops, be careful with space heating devices and don’t use gas generators inside your home or garage. Also, protect yourself and your family by installing carbon monoxide alarms.”
Well-maintained furnaces and vented combustion space heaters should pose no problem if used correctly according to the manufacturers’ instructions. However, as many as 100 people each year in the United States die from carbon monoxide poisoning, often by running gas powered machinery indoors. Follow these tips to avoid accidental injury or death from carbon monoxide:
- During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate gasoline powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including the garage
- Do not warm up your vehicle by idling the engine inside an attached garage
- Do not cook or heat with charcoal barbeques inside your home
- Have your gas or oil burning furnace inspected for leaks and serviced by a professional each year
- Hire a professional to inspect and service all chimneys and vents. A blocked vent (from soot or a birds nest, for example) can cause carbon monoxide to back up into the house
- Avoid combustion “space heaters” unless there is an exhaust vent. Place space heaters correctly to avoid fire
- Install certified carbon monoxide warning devices in hallways outside bedrooms
Physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Splitting headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lethargy and fatigue
Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill you. If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor’s home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to reenter the home.
Signs that your heating device may be leaking deadly carbon monoxide gas include:
- a decreased hot water supply
- continually running furnace that doesn’t seem to heat the house properly
- burning odor
- increased moisture on the inside of windows
- sooting, particularly on vents and heating devices
For more information on carbon monoxide, visit:
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.
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