Fire Marshal Warns

Of Carbon Monoxide Hazards

By Andrew Gorosko

Fire Marshal Bill Halstead is urging residents to be mindful of the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, now that the home heating season has started with the advent of cold winter weather.

During recent weeks, several local people have needed to be checked for potential carbon monoxide poisoning due to malfunctioning heating devices, but no one, to his knowledge, has had to be transported to a hospital for that problem, he said.

Mr Halstead said that the more steadily that furnaces run in cold weather, the more likely it is that there will be cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. That is especially true if those furnaces have not been properly maintained, he said.

CO is a colorless, odorless, and invisible gas. Its presence can cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and breathing problems.

CO poisoning sends approximately 5,000 people in the US to emergency rooms for treatment each year. It kills more than 150 people each year in the US, Mr Halstead said.

Potential sources of CO are fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, and stoves. Such appliances may burn various types of fuels.

Chimneys, flues, or vents that may be blocked by creosote or by debris may be CO sources. Also, loose or disconnected high-temperature plastic vents that may be separated or may be cracked can pose CO hazards. The improper ventilation of a fuel’s combustion may result in CO problems.

All fuels may discharge hazardous levels of CO, including kerosene, oil, coal, natural gas, propane, and wood, according to Mr Halstead.

Charcoal grills should never be used indoors or in an enclosed space such as a tent, garage, vehicle, or shed.

 Grills that contain live coals should never be brought indoors after use. Charcoal grills should never be used as a source of heat.

Mr Halstead urges that residents have a yearly professional inspection of their home’s fuel-burning appliances. All potential sources of CO should be checked for possible leakage and for adequate ventilation. Vents should be checked for birds’ nests, animals, and insects.

Residents should install carbon monoxide detectors that meet current Underwriters Laboratories standards.

“Everyone should have a carbon monoxide detector in their living space and in their bedroom areas… People are especially at risk while sleeping. A CO detector is a simple and economical precaution that can save lives,” according to Marc J. Bayer, MD, a toxicologist who heads the Connecticut Poison Control Center.

Early symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea, unclear thinking, shortness of breath, weakness, and loss of muscle control. These symptoms often mimic the flu, leading to misdiagnosis by both patient and physician. Be mindful of CO poisoning if symptoms vanish when you leave your regular indoor environment. Severe symptoms can include convulsions and unconsciousness which can lead to death, according to Dr Bayer.