Protection from Carbon Monoxide

  • Winter 2016

Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon Monoxide Detector

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas with no odor or color. It’s found in fumes produced by vehicles, fire places, gas ranges or furnaces. It can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. According to the CDC, annually 20,000+ Americans visit the ER from unintentional CO poisoning.

To protect yourself from CO:

  • Install a CO detector in a place where it will wake you if it activates. Remember to regularly check and change the batteries and replace the CO detector every five years.
  • Have your heating system and other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced annually.
  • Have your chimney checked or cleaned annually.
  • Never run a vehicle inside an attached garage even with the garage door open. Always open the door to detached garages to let in fresh air when you run a vehicle.
  • Never use portable heaters or generators indoors.

For more tips, see the CDC’s website, www.cdc.gov/CO.