Carbon Monoxide: A Silent Killer in San Antonio

9/6/2017 (Permalink)

You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels, it can kill a person in minutes. Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide, or CO,
is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas, created when fuels, like gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas and propane burn incompletely.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning. It
is estimated another 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to CO poisoning.  All people and animals are at risk for CO poisoning, with some groups—
including unborn babies, infants, and
people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems— being more susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide.

An excess of CO, leading to CO poisoning, can result from faulty furnaces or other heating appliances, portable generators, water heaters,
clothes dryers, or idling cars left running in garages.  Taking some basic, precautionary
steps can help eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Protect yourself by reviewing the following tips, provided by the United States Fire Administration.

• Have fuel-burning appliances, like
  oil and gas furnaces, gas or kerosene
  heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves
  inspected by a trained professional
  every year.
• Open the damper for proper
  ventilation before using a fireplace.
  Never use your oven or stove top to
  heat your home.
• Make sure all fuel-burning vented
  equipment is vented to the outside
  to avoid CO poisoning. Keep
  the venting for exhaust clear and
  unblocked.
• If you need to warm a vehicle,
  remove it from the garage
  immediately after starting it. Never
  run a vehicle or other fueled engine
  or motor indoors, even if garage
  doors are open. Make sure the
  exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is
  not blocked with snow, ice, or other
  materials.
• Make sure vents for the dryer,
  furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear
  of snow and other debris.
• Only use barbecue grills outside,
  away from all doors, windows,
  vents, and other building openings.
  Some grills can produce CO gas.
  Never use grills inside the home
  or the garage, even if the doors are
  open.
• Use portable generators outdoors
  in well-ventilated areas away from
  all doors, windows, vents, and
  other building openings to prevent
  exhaust fumes from entering the
  home.