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The silent killer

By Rudy Sagastume
Special to MÁS

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, orderless, tasteless gas that is the product of incomplete combustion. It poisons the red blood cells so that they cannot carry enough oxygen to supply our vital organs.
     The reason we start to see more cases of CO poisoning at this time of year is because folks start turning their gas furnaces on and occasionally these furnaces are faulty, resulting in incomplete combustion and CO production.
Sadly, when the temperatures really plummet or power outages occur, we’ll see cases where a family has brought a charcoal grill indoors to supplement heating the home. This is a recipe for disaster, as those grills put off a tremendous amount of CO in poorly ventilated areas.
Other causes of CO poisoning include faulty chimneys; gas water heaters; exhaust systems in cars; or house fires in which victims were trapped; and intentional/suicidal exposures.
About 230 people die each year from CO poisoning related to fuel-burning household appliances. When inhaled, carbon monoxide — a tasteless, orderless gas — is easily absorbed into the blood. The gas is lethal when it replaces the amount of oxygen needed to sustain heart and brain function.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and nausea, and are often dismissed as “a touch of the flu,” even by doctors.

Play it safe
If you experience symptoms that could be from CO poisoning:
•   Do get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances and leave the house.
•   Do go to an emergency room and tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning. If CO poisoning has occurred, it can often be diagnosed by a blood test done soon after exposure.
•   Do be prepared to answer the following for the doctor:
1. Do your symptoms occur only in the house? Do they disappear or decrease when you leave home?
2. Is anyone else in your household complaining of similar symptoms? Did the symptoms appear about the same time?
3. Are you using any fuel-burning appliances lately?

Tips
•   Never use a vented-type heater without proper venting and flue (chimney).
•   Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for the proper size heater and for its installation, maintenance and use. Have it professionally installed.
•   Have your heater installation checked by the local fire marshal, building inspector or gas company before lighting.
•   Never use a heater that is in disrepair. Always keep your heater in proper condition.
•   Turn off the heater if the burner flame looks strange, i.e., yellow flames, unsteady flames or smoky flames.
•   Turn off the heater, ventilate the room and get into the fresh air if you feel other than normal, i.e., headache, nausea, fuzzy vision — CO does not have an odor and you may become unconscious before you realize there is a problem.
•   Make sure the venting system is open — a blocked vent can cause a space heater to exhaust CO into your living space.
•   Never sleep in a room where a gas heater is burning.
•   Do not operate a gas heater in a completely “tight” room. The heater needs a source of fresh air to operate safely and efficiently. Crack a window, if needed.
•   Don’t use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
•   Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.