Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning causes headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, chest pain and confusion, and it can kill people in their sleep before they notice anything wrong. According to the CDC, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, and more than 100,000 visit an emergency room. If you suspect CO in your home, get everyone outside to fresh air immediately and call 911.
The risk climbs every fall and winter, when furnaces switch on, windows stay shut and storms knock out power. Here is what CO is, how to recognize poisoning, and the simple steps that prevent it.
What is carbon monoxide and why is it so dangerous?
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced whenever fuel burns: natural gas, propane, oil, wood, kerosene, charcoal or gasoline. It has no color, no smell and no taste, so you cannot sense it. When you breathe it in, it crowds oxygen out of your blood, starving the brain and heart.
Everyone is at risk, but the CDC says infants, older adults and people with chronic heart disease, anemia or breathing problems are more likely to get sick. People who are asleep or have been drinking can die before they show any symptoms at all.
Warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning
CO symptoms are often mistaken for the flu or a bad cold. Look for these signs, especially if several people (or pets) in the same home feel sick at once, or if symptoms ease when you leave the house:
- Dull headache that will not go away
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Weakness and unusual tiredness
- Upset stomach or vomiting
- Chest pain
- Confusion, blurred vision or trouble thinking clearly
- Loss of consciousness in severe cases
What to do right away: Do not try to find the source. Leave the building, leave the door open behind you if it is quick to do so, and call 911 from outside. You can also reach Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for advice. Do not go back in until firefighters or a qualified technician say it is safe.
Common winter sources and how to prevent poisoning
Most poisonings come from everyday equipment that is used in the wrong place or has not been maintained. This table pairs the most common sources with the CDC’s safety advice:
| Source | What to do |
|---|---|
| Furnace, boiler, water heater, gas dryer | Have a qualified technician service fuel-burning appliances every year. |
| Fireplace and wood stove | Have the chimney checked or cleaned every year; never close the damper while embers glow. |
| Portable generator | Run it only outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never in a garage, basement or porch. |
| Gas oven or stove | Never use it to heat your home. |
| Charcoal grill, camp stove, flameless heater | Never use indoors or in a tent, even with a window open. |
| Car or truck | Never let it idle in an attached garage, even with the door open. Clear snow from the tailpipe before starting. |
Power outages are a classic danger point. After hurricanes and winter storms, many deaths come from generators placed too close to the house. Our storm preparation guide covers what else to have ready before the lights go out.
How to choose and maintain a CO detector
A working detector is the only reliable way to know CO is building up. The CDC recommends:
- Install one near every sleeping area. Use a battery-operated model or a plug-in model with battery backup so it works during an outage. Many safety groups also advise one on every level of the home.
- Test it monthly by pressing the test button.
- Check batteries when clocks change in spring and fall. Clocks just moved back an hour this weekend, which makes now a good time. See our explainer on daylight saving time ending in 2026.
- Replace the unit as the manufacturer directs, or about every five years. Check the “replace by” date printed on the back.
- Consider a digital readout, which shows the highest level detected and can help responders.
A smoke alarm does not detect carbon monoxide unless it is labeled as a combination smoke and CO alarm. If an alarm sounds, treat it as real: get out first, then call for help.
For the full list of official prevention tips, read the CDC’s carbon monoxide poisoning page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my headache is from carbon monoxide?
Clues include several people in the home feeling ill at the same time, symptoms that improve when you go outside or to work, and symptoms that start after turning on the heat or a fuel-burning appliance. If your CO alarm is sounding, assume it is CO and leave.
Can I run a generator in my garage with the door open?
No. An open garage door does not let enough CO escape. The CDC says generators belong outdoors only, more than 20 feet from any window, door or vent.
Where should a carbon monoxide detector go?
Place at least one near each sleeping area so it can wake you, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for height and placement. Avoid putting it right next to a fuel-burning appliance, which can cause false alarms.
Who should I call if my CO alarm goes off?
Get everyone outside, then call 911 or your local fire department. If someone has symptoms, tell the dispatcher. Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) can also give medical guidance.
Discover more from NewsNation Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
आपके लिए सुझाव
Leave a Reply