The Facts About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

 Carbon monoxide is a gas that is colorless and odorless. This gas is very poisonous and can cause someone to become suddenly ill or have sudden death. Carbon Monoxide builds up in combustion fumes that are made by trucks, cars, small gas engines,  gas ovens, heating systems, wood and charcoal that is lit and burning. If the carbon monoxide builds up in an enclosed or semi-enclosed area people and pets can become poisoned by breathing in these odorless, colorless fumes.

 Everyone is at risk including pets but some are more susceptible to suffer it's effects than others. These include people with respiratory problems, chronic heart disease, anemia and infants and unborn babies. The highest amount of fatalities are people over 65 years of age. In the United States alone there are more than 400 people a year that die from this poisoning and more than 20,000 people that go to the emergency room with 4000 of them hospitalized because of carbon monoxide poisoning.

When a lot of carbon monoxide gets into the air that people or pets are breathing the red blood cells pick up the carbon monoxide faster than they pick up oxygen. The body than will replace oxygen with this poison thus blocking the oxygen from entering the body causing tissue damage which can result in death. Symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, confusion and headache. Loss of consciousness and death can result if levels are high. This poisoning is difficult to diagnosis due to it's similarity of other illnesses. People can die without any symptoms while asleep or intoxicated. With low levels of carbon monoxide a person may experience a slight headache or perhaps slight nausea which goes away when they leave the house to return again when they go back inside. If the levels are moderate the person may have dizziness, nausea and vomiting, headache and confusion and memory loss. This level can result in death if exposure is for a long period of time.

If suffering from carbon monoxide should occur the first thing to do is get the person outside into the fresh air. Open all windows and doors and turn off gas appliances. If poisoned one should get to an emergency room immediately where a simple blood test can be done to properly diagnosis poisoning. If the person stops breathing CPR should be performed to keep oxygen into their lungs. If found to be suffering with carbon monoxide poisoning the doctor may order the patient to be put into a hyperbaric chamber to replenish the body with pure oxygen.

• Each year have a service technician check your gas heating system and any gas, coal or oil burning appliances.
• Never use portable catalytic heater indoors. These are flame-less, chemical heaters that don't have a flame but do burn gas. They can build up carbon monoxide inside enclosed spaces.
• If you own a gas refrigerator and ever smell an odor have it checked by an expert. It could be leaking carbon monoxide.
• Buy only gas equipment that has the seal of a national test agency.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and replace batteries as needed.
• Make sure that all gas appliances are vented so the carbon monoxide can escape the home properly.
• Never use a stove, furnace or fireplace that is not vented properly.
• Have your chimney inspected yearly to make sure that nothing has blocked the escape of fumes.
• Check vent pipes to make sure there are no cracks or breaks in the vent. If you find one, never patch it with anything but have a professional correct the problem.