Protecting Your Family From Carbon Monoxide

Posted on October 2, 2008
Filed Under Family Health Articles |

Family Health and Carbon Monoxide

It isn’t often that Arkansans have to turn on their heat in October and November, but already that has been the case this year. This reminds me of the dangers of carbon monoxide. Will you revisit the safety issues for my family and others?

Carbon monoxide is a unusual killer because it is silent ” you can’t see it or smell it. With winter approaching, families are beginning to spend most of their time in enclosed homes so this is a good time to review the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced by any kind of heater or appliance that burns gas, wood or kerosene. It is also a by-product of car combustion. When these heating mechanisms are in use in a small, enclosed space, carbon monoxide is produced and builds up in the air. (For example, a stove or furnace with an improper vent, a car with the engine running in a closed garage or a charcoal grill in an enclosed area, are typical set-ups for carbon monoxide poisoning.)

Breathing carbon monoxide can cause changes in personality, memory loss, brain damage and even death. Visible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

Confusion
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Fainting

The sudden occurrence of someone previously healthy becoming confused, irritable or nauseous makes one think of carbon monoxide poisoning. If anyone in the family has these symptoms while in an enclosed area, they should immediately be moved to an area with fresh air and be seen by a physician. In order to help avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, you should:

Never leave a car with the motor running in a closed garage.

Never use a charcoal grill or portable camping stove in an indoor area.

Never use an oven to heat your house.

Never use gasoline powered engines in closed spaces.

Make sure furnaces, fireplaces, clothes dryers, etc. have proper vents and are inspected once a year.

Make sure flues and chimneys associated with fireplaces and heaters are well connected and inspected once a year.

Gas powered generators have become quite popular and are widely used after power failures to generate heat and electricity. They also are used while camping, and where heat or electricity is necessary and no external power source is available such as a power failure. Generators are safe, but they are a known source of carbon monoxide and you should pay particular attention to not having a generator in a totally enclosed space without outside air. They should not be used in closed garages, rooms, or tents. They also should not be operated close to air-intake vents.

As with smoke detectors, everyone is encouraged to have a carbon monoxide monitor installed in at least one area of their home. These safety devices are particularly helpful when they are placed close to bedrooms. Even when you have carbon monoxide monitors, check your house and other activities such as camping tents, etc. and make sure you have proper ventilation. Always check heating sources (furnaces, fireplaces, etc.) at least once a year, usually just before turning on winter heat.

For more information on how to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning, you can visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website at www.aap.org contact the Arkansas Poison Control Center at (800) 3-POISON (376-4766) or the Centerpoint Energy ARKLA website at www.arkla.centerpointenergy.com

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