The Florida Department of Health advises the public to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) exposure by taking precautions with gas-powered appliances and charcoal or gas grills. 

Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas and is highly poisonous. Depending on the level of exposure, CO may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pains for those with heart disease, shortness of breath upon exertion, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, death.  

Take the following precautions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:  

• Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, garage, vehicle, tent, or fireplace.  
   
• NEVER use a generator inside enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up in the home.  
• ALWAYS place the unit outdoors on a dry surface, away from doors, windows, vents, and air conditioning equipment that could allow CO to come indoors.   
• ALWAYS place the generator at least 20 feet away from the house. 
• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.   
• Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.  
• REMEMBER: you cannot see or smell CO and portable generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly.  
• If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY.  
• If you have a poisoning emergency, call your nearest Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911 immediately.   

What is Carbon Monoxide?  

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is highly poisonous by interfering with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body.  

What are the major sources of CO?  

Items that use coal, wood, charcoal, natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and heating oil for fuel, such as portable generators, small gasoline engines, charcoal grills, gas stoves, portable fuel-powered space heaters, automobile exhaust from attached garages, and even smoking tobacco produce CO. Problems can arise because of improper placement, installation, operation, and maintenance of CO generating devices or appliances.  

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?  

Depending on the level of exposure, CO may cause fatigue, weakness, chest pain for those with heart disease, shortness of breath upon exertion, abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, loss of consciousness, and in severe cases, death.  

What should you do if you think you have CO poisoning?  

Don’t ignore symptoms, especially if more than one person is feeling ill. Anyone who suspects symptoms of CO poisoning should go outside the home or building immediately and seek prompt medical attention.  

If a person has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately from a safer location such as outside or a neighbor's home. Call the Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222 for additional information and advice about CO poisoning.  

What can be done to prevent CO poisoning?  

Ensure all household combustion appliances (fireplaces, stoves, water heaters, furnaces) are working properly, vented outside with no leaks, and installed per manufacturers’ instructions and local building codes. Improperly designed or malfunctioning exhaust systems may also contribute to elevated CO levels in homes. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up to life threatening levels. Portable generators and charcoal grills should never be operated inside homes or other enclosed or partially enclosed buildings or outside within 20 feet of doors, windows, and openings to the house. 

Do not use ovens and gas ranges to heat your home. Do not leave a car or lawn mower engine running in a shed or garage, or in any enclosed or partially enclosed space. ALWAYS install battery-powered or plug-in CO alarm (with battery backup) in your home.  

What about CO alarms?  

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the installation of CO alarms in every home. Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery backup per manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarm should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, CSA 6.19.01). In addition, remember to test your CO alarms per the manufacturer recommendations and replace dead batteries. 

REMEMBER: CO alarms can be used as a backup, and not as a replacement for proper use, placement, and maintenance of your fuel-burning device or appliances. Also, CO alarms are for immediate health issues. Lower level CO exposure below the alarm threshold can still contribute to adverse health effects in susceptible individuals (persons with heart or lung disease for example).  

For further information, go to http://www.floridahealth.gov/