Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
BY KIMBERLY NICOLETTI
summit daily news
November 4, 2005
SUMMIT COUNTY - Carbon monoxide can be a silent killer.
Mark Martin, a 33-year-old Fairplay resident, died of carbon monoxide toxicity Oct. 10, possibly from running a generator in an attached closed garage during a power outage, said Park County Coroner Sharon Morris.
About once a year, Summit County Coroner Joanne Richardson sees a death from carbon monoxide poisoning, she said. In 2003, Michael Duarte, a 37-year-old, died in the garage of his Dillon home from heating his garage with a gas heater while he worked with the doors closed.
About 200 people die nationwide every year from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with home fuel-burning heating equipment, said Susan Parachini, program manager for the state public health's consumer protection division.
As winter arrives, state health officials urge residents to avoid exposure to carbon monoxide. The main precautions involve installing carbon monoxide detectors and making sure that fuel-burning appliances work properly.
Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty furnaces or fuel-fired heaters or get trapped inside by a blocked chimney or flue. Burning charcoal inside the house or running an automobile engine in an attached garage also will produce carbon monoxide in the home.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is incompletely burned, including natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline and wood. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu-like illnesses and include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and irregular breathing.
Take Precautions to Avoid Poisoning
The state health department encourages people to take the following safety precautions:
- Have home heating systems, including chimneys and flues, inspected by a qualified technician each year for proper operations and leakage. The checks should include electrical and mechanical components, thermostat controls and automatic safety devices on all heating appliances.
- Do not use portable heaters powered by propane or kerosene in the house.
- Do not try to use a range or an oven as a supplemental heater, and never use charcoal or propane grills indoors.
- Check vents and chimneys to ensure they are clear and undamaged. Watch for loose mortar or bricks on the chimney that can slip and block airways.
- Have wood-burning stoves and new fireplaces installed and vented by a professional.
- Clear snow and ice away from vents on the exterior of the house.
- Do not seal off all of the fresh-air sources in the home when weatherizing. The blockage could create a serious fire hazard and could cause dangerous carbon monoxide fumes to build up in the house. A fresh air supply is vital to the removal of pollutants and the complete combustion of any fuel.
- Avoid operating gasoline-burning engines, such as those on most cars and lawn mowers, in an unventilated area, such as a garage, where pollutants may enter the home. |
