It happens every year, people die from carbon monoxide poisoning while working on vehicles in closed garages or from faulty heaters in tents and RVs. Others are more fortunate because they are found unconscious and can be revived in time. However, acute exposure to carbon monoxide can result in permanent brain injury including depression and anxiety, loss of memory, nerve damage, cognitive disorders and personality changes. These disorders may not appear immediately, and can occur even if the victim is treated with oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen.
One of the big culprits is improper heating in confined areas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says some 200 people in the U.S. die from CO poisoning from fuel-burning appliances like furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters. Other die while burning charcoal inside a home, garage or tent, or running vehicles running in closed garages.
The best defense against CO poisoning is a good CO alarm. Note that smoke detectors do NOT detect carbon monoxide. You need both a smoke alarm and a CO detector, or a detector that includes both functions. Make sure that both are battery powered so they will work even during an electric power outage. Then replace the batteries periodically. A great time is in the fall when you set your clocks back so you will have fresh batteries for fall and winter when you are more likely to be working in a closed spaces. Also spend a little more and get alarms that have a test function. Then test several times during the year.Carbon monoxide is called the “Silent Killer” because is odorless, you can’t feel it and it doesn’t cause irritation. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, shortness of breathe, nausea, and dizziness. You might think you are coming down with the flu, but without a fever. Unfortunately, most of the time you are unconscious or even dead before you can notice the symptoms.
If you think you have been poisoned by carbon monoxide, go outside immediately so you can breathe fresh air. Then find the source of the problem, fix it and then seek medical attention. In more severe cases call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room first. If the CO alarm goes off, get everyone into the fresh air immediately.
Of course, make sure that if you have a heater or other fuel burning device in your garage or work that it is hooked up and properly vented. Never run a vehicle in a closed garage, even for a minute or so.
