Carbon monoxide deaths peak during winter months

Beware of and prepare for silent killer in the home

December 27, 2007

Winter is the peak period for carbon monoxide deaths. This odorless and colorless gas can turn deadly in homes in high levels.

About 200-300 unintentional-injury deaths a year are due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the National Safety Council, but families can keep safe from this silent killer by installing at least one carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas in the home to alert occupants to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in time to prevent poisoning.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can seem like other illnesses and include severe headache, shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea and may have longer term effects on health.

Because carbon monoxide poisoning often causes a victim’s blood pressure to rise, the victim’s skin may take on a pink or red color. Don’t ignore symptoms. Carbon monoxide poisoning requires immediate medical attention.

Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up from any fuel-burning appliance or equipment if it isn’t working properly, or if the carbon monoxide produced isn’t vented safely to the outside. If there isn’t enough oxygen available to run your furnace, for instance, the rate of carbon monoxide production can greatly increase.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study released in June on non-fire carbon monoxide incidents reported in 2005, points to carbon monoxide poisoning as a national issue.

According to the report, municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 61,100 carbon monoxide incidents in 2005, excluding incidents where nothing was found or fire was present. The report also points to December and January as peak months for carbon monoxide incidents, and that the peak time of day for such incidents is between 6 p.m. and 9:59 p.m.

Burney says the findings in the report reflect a 9 % increase between 2005 and 2004 when fire departments responded to an estimated 55,900 non-fire carbon monoxide incidents, and an 18% increase since 2003, when there were an estimated 51,700 incidents.

According to the study, nearly 9 out of every 10 reported non-fire carbon monoxide incidents took place in the home, which included one- or two-family dwellings, manufactured homes and multi-family dwellings including apartments, condominiums, town houses, row houses and tenements.

Burney says carbon monoxide poisoning in the home can be prevented by the following measures:
• Install carbon monoxide detectors tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) near sleeping areas in the home, test them monthly and learn the sound of the alarm. If the alarm sounds, take it seriously and report it immediately by calling 9-1-1.

• When the carbon monoxide detector sounds, ventilate the structure by opening windows and doors and leave the house immediately.

• Never operate portable electric generators, camp stoves, lanterns, or barbecues inside the home or garage.

• Have heating equipment inspected each year to identify damage or malfunction, and make repairs as needed.

• Open the flue before using the fireplace.

• Do not use an oven to heat a room.

• Always move vehicles out of the garage after starting the ignition, and then close the door to avoid rapid build-up of carbon monoxide.

• Don’t allow snow or anything else to block the vents for your dryer, stove or heating equipment.

By knowing what you need to do to keep carbon monoxide from your home and installing carbon monoxide detectors, you can minimize the risk of this silent killer from striking.