Preventing the Silent Killer

When people think of unintentional poisonings, the toxic products stashed under the kitchen sink often come to mind.  But there is one life-threatening poison that parents may not think about — carbon monoxide (CO).  

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), claiming 400 lives and injuring another 20,000 each year.    Colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it is often called "the Silent Killer.”  The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, nausea, and dizziness.  Since these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, CO poisoning may be dismissed as a virus.  Unfortunately, the consequences of doing so may be tragic.

“Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of CO.  Due to their smaller bodies, children process CO differently than adults and may be more severely affected by carbon monoxide in their blood,” said Alan Korn, executive director for Safe Kids USA. 

The CDC reports show that from 2004 to 2006, children aged 5 years and younger had the highest estimated rate of CO-related emergency department visits among all age groups. 

The majority of Americans use gas, wood, kerosene or another fuel as their home’s main heat source, all of which emit carbon monoxide.  Yet, a recent survey by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) found that two-thirds of Americans don't know which common household appliances are potential CO poisoning sources, such as a furnace, water heater, charcoal grill, and portable generator.  When these or other fuel-burning devices malfunction or are used improperly, carbon monoxide can quickly build up inside a home, causing injury or even death. 

So how can families be sure the silent killer isn't lurking in their home?  Install a carbon monoxide alarm. It’s the only safe way to detect this poisonous gas, say emergency responders. In fact, many state leaders have recognized the importance of having a working carbon monoxide alarm.  Currently, 24 states require CO alarms in certain residences.  In addition, experts say that families can take these simple steps to reduce the chance of having a CO incident:

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm outside of every sleeping area and on every level of your home.

• Place CO alarms at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances to reduce nuisance alarms.

• Test alarms each month and replace them every seven years.

• Have all gas, oil or coal-burning appliances inspected by a technician every year to ensure they are working properly.

• Never use a stove to heat your home.

• Do not use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home, garage or near a window.

• Never leave a car, SUV, or motorcycle engine running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.

Chief Mike Roll announced that North-West Fire Protection District can help homeowners in their district to prevent CO poisoning by providing a free home safety inspection and CO detector for anyone in their district who is interested. "This can be especially important as we start cranking up the heaters with cooler temperatures heading our way," Chief Roll warned. Please contact North-West Fire at 719-836-3150 for more information or to sign up.