Download CDC podcasts to your desktop and portable music/video player for health information at your convenience and on the go. New to podcasting? See Podcast Help and RSS HelpThe Quiet Killer
Date Released: 11/3/2008 To save the Podcast, right click the "Save this file" link below and select the "Save Target As..." option. Save This File (2MB) Download this transcript (23KB)[Announcer] This podcast is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC – safer, healthier people. [Announcer] CDC-TV presents Health Matters. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] Each year in the United States, approximately 20,000 people go to the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning. [Dr. Paul Garbe] Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas; it’s extremely poisonous and it can kill you in minutes, if you’re exposed to it. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] Nearly 500 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. [Announcer] Fire and Rescue Captain Antonio Burden is a first responder and has been a victim of a CO leak in his home. [Captain Antonio Burden] It’s a strange feeling – once you start, you know, feeling dizzy. Then you get a tremendous headache. You also start experiencing nausea and that nausea can lead to other symptoms. [Dr. Paul Garbe] In a really severe case of carbon monoxide poisoning, someone could lose consciousness or die within minutes. [Announcer] Hurricanes or severe storms can trigger power outages that last for days. Some people fire up a generator for power or a gas stove to heat their home, but fail to realize the danger. [Dr. Robert Geller] It’s one thing to be cold, it’s another thing to be seriously ill and need critical care. [Dr. Paul Garbe] Never use your oven to heat your home. It could be a source of carbon monoxide for you. It’s dangerous. Don’t do it. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] Make sure that their appliances and heating devices are properly vented and maintained by a professional. [Dr. Paul Garbe] Dangers from poorly-maintained heating systems are really going to be the number one cause of carbon monoxide poisonings in the United States. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] CDC suggests that generators be placed outdoors. [Dr. Paul Garbe] We recommend at least 25 feet away from your house. The best is as far away from your home as possible. So if your power cord is 50 feet, I would put my generator 50 feet away from my house if I were using it. [Announcer] There are actions to protect your family. [Dr. Paul Garbe] CDC recommends that all homes have carbon monoxide detectors. I think it’s a great investment. It’s particularly important that you have carbon monoxide detectors near where people sleep at night. The worst location for a carbon monoxide detector is in the box without a battery. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] Most importantly, when you go to purchase a CO detector, make sure that it is specifically for carbon monoxide. [Dr. Paul Garbe] The other important thing is that it’s battery operated. If it is an A/C operated detector, it’s important that it also have a battery back-up. [Dr. Fuyuen Yip] Running your car in the garage, even with the garage door open, is not safe. [Dr. Paul Garbe] If you have to get your car warmed up in the winter time, make sure it’s parked in the driveway, well away from the house. [Dr. Robert Geller] Carbon monoxide makes people sick; it kills people and is completely preventable. [Announcer]For the most accurate health information, visit www.cdc.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO, 24/7.
Page last modified Monday, November 03, 2008 |