Carbon monoxide is dangerous. You can’t see or smell it; it’s a gas that has no color or odor. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can come from improperly vented furnaces, plugged or cracked chimneys, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, or tail pipes.
The most common symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is a headache. Other symptoms include dizziness, chest pain, nausea, vomiting. High levels of carbon monoxide can cause someone to pass out and can also lead to death.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning
- Leave the building.
- Get any victims to fresh air right away.
- Call 911.
- Call your local utility company.
Carbon monoxide safety tips
- Keep furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters, and clothes dryers properly ventilated.
- Keep chimneys clean and clear of ashes or trash, if you have a working fireplace.
- Do not use your oven to heat your home.
- Do not use gas or charcoal barbecue grills, kerosene, or oil-burning heaters indoors.
- Install and maintain a working carbon monoxide detector in your home. Check and change the batteries every six months. A good time to do this is when you reset your clocks for Daylight Saving Time.