Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It is produced from burning substances.
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is sickness from breathing in too much carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide can hurt you because it prevents oxygen in your blood from reaching your cells.
People who breathe in too much carbon monoxide can die.
Symptoms include headache, feeling sick to your stomach, confusion, clumsiness (poor coordination), and tiredness
You may mistakenly think you have flu or another illness
Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home—they alert you if there is carbon monoxide in the air
If you think you may be breathing in carbon monoxide, move outside to fresh air right away, and call for emergency medical assistance (911 in most areas of the United States).
What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide comes from burning substances. Anything that involves burning something can produce carbon monoxide: house fires, car engines, fireplaces, furnaces, gas heaters, kerosene heaters, and stoves. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, fumes must be vented (released outside) properly.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
The first symptoms are:
Headache or dizziness
Feeling sick to your stomach
Throwing up
Feeling tired or having trouble focusing
Poor coordination (clumsiness)
Later, or with more severe carbon monoxide poisoning, you may
Be confused
Be unconscious or unresponsive
Have seizures (when your body moves and jerks out of your control)
Have pain in your chest
Feel like you can’t breathe
Feel faint or weak
Severe poisoning can kill you.
How can doctors tell if I have carbon monoxide poisoning?
Doctors will take a sample of your blood to check for carbon monoxide in it.
How do doctors treat carbon monoxide poisoning?
Doctors will give you oxygen. The oxygen will help remove the carbon monoxide from your blood.
If you have mild poisoning, you may just need fresh air
If you have severe poisoning, you may need to breathe oxygen through a face mask
How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home
Make sure all fireplaces, furnaces, and stoves are installed and vented properly
Don't turn on your car in a closed garage
