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Home , Carbon monoxide

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning in your home

Indoor Air Unit Carbon Monoxide and Table of Contents Carbon Monoxide and Your Home 1 Your Home Sources of CO in Your Home 3 Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas created Recreation and CO 5 when a is burned. Common include , Know the Symptoms of CO Poisoning 7 , and wood. Since CO has no smell or taste, you cannot detect the gas with your senses. Dangerous CO Alarms in Your Home 9 concentrations of CO can build up indoors and cause illness 10 before you realize you are being poisoned. Symptoms of CO poisoning are very similar to the flu and this may cause you to ignore the early signs of poisoning.

Each year, accidental CO poisoning causes on average:

• 400 deaths in the U.S. Alarm O • 14 deaths in Minnesota

The good news is that carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented with simple actions such as installing a CO alarm in your home. This brochure will explain the causes and health effects of CO exposure an d explain ways to maintain your home. You can prevent CO poisoning and keep your family safe.

1 2 Sources of CO in Your Signs appliances are not venting properly • Streaks of soot • No upward draft in Home around appliances chimney • Orange or yellow • Excess moisture CO is produced whenever a fuel in pilot lights • Rusting flue pipes burns. or gas burners (the flame should be Types of fuel include: blue) Natural gas Propane Gasoline Wood 4 Homes with fuel 5 Properly burning appliances 6 7 maintain and homes with fuel burning attached garages are appliances and more likely to have vent them to CO problems. 1 2 3 the outside air.

1. Clothes dryers (gas) 4. Potential CO 2. heaters 5. Gas sources: 3. Furnaces and boilers 6. Cars 7. Grills, generators and power tools

3 4 Recreation and CO Garages • Do not use or gas Boats grills inside of closed garages. • Avoid idling car in • Be aware of where a boat motor enclosed spaces. exhausts. • Avoid using fuel-burning • Tow passengers at least 20 feet tools indoors. Examples away from the back of the boat. include washers, • Boats equipped with a cabin are leaf blowers, lawn mowers, required to have CO alarms. or concrete saws.

Ice Fishing Portable Generators • Regularly inspect heating • Never place a portable equipment and verify it is in generator indoors. They can good condition before use. produce a lot of exhaust. • Consider using a battery • Keep generators away from powered CO alarm in ice houses. windows and doors.

Camping Keep away from • Camp stoves, grills and fuel- the house burning lanterns are made for At least feet outdoor use. Never use them inside of a tent, RV or cabin.

5 6 Know the Symptoms of CO Poisoning Symptoms can progress to:

CO is often called the “silent killer” because the symptoms • Confusion and irritability of CO poisoning are very similar to the flu. This means that • Impaired judgment and loss of coordination many people will ignore the early signs and let the poisoning • Unconsciousness get worse. For most people, the first signs of There are some signs that it is CO exposure include: poisoning and not the flu: • Headache • You feel better when you are away from home • Breathlessness with mild exercise • Symptoms appear or seem to get worse when using fuel-burning equipment • Dizziness • Everyone is sick at the same time (the flu virus • Fatigue usually spreads from person to person) • Nausea • No fever, no body aches, no swollen lymph nodes

Anyone can become sick and die from CO poisoning when exposed at very high levels.

7 8 CO Alarms If the CO alarm sounds: • Go outside to fresh air. Under Minnesota law, every home is required to have at • Make sure everyone is accounted for. least one operating CO alarm within 10 feet of every room used for sleeping. • If exhibiting symptoms of CO poisoning, call your local fire department or 9-1-1. The alarms can be hard-wired, battery powered or plug-in devices. Make sure that alarms are UL listed and follow the • If feeling fine, call your gas utility company. package instructions for proper placement. • Do not re-enter the home until it is safe. • Identify the source of the CO and make repairs.

Within feet of Alarm every Furnaces O bedroom CO poisonings occur more often in the winter months and one of the largest contributors are furnaces. Have your checked by a qualified heating contractor once a year, this includes having an annual tune-up. Not only is this important to maintain your furnace, but the contractor will CO alarms do not last forever look for potential CO problems. Most alarms need to be replaced every 5 – 7 years. Look at the owner’s manual to see the recommended replacement schedule.

9 10 CO ALARM

Indoor Air Unit PO Box 64975 St Paul, MN 55164-0975 1-651-201-4601 1-800-798-9050 [email protected] www.health.state.mn.us

4/2017 ID #56687