A Little Common Sense Carbon Monoxide Safety Goes a Long Way

We all know that carbon monoxide is a deadly, odorless, colorless gas generated by fuel-burning equipment such as gas grills, portable generators and even cars.

In the United States, as many as 2,100 people a year die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Another 15,000 are treated in emergency rooms for carbon monoxide poisoning.

In many cases, carbon monoxide poisoning could have been prevented by following these common sense carbon monoxide safety rules:

Never leave a car running in the garage. Once you pull in, immediately turn off your car’s engine, even if you only plan on running inside for a moment. Before leaving your home, raise your home’s garage door, start your car and then leave to avoid carbon monoxide buildup. Garage’s can be especially dangerous shelters for carbon monoxide, especially if they are attached to the home.

Never use gas appliances to heat your home. This includes stove tops, ovens, camp stoves and charcoal grills. In an alarming number of cases, people have been poisoned after bringing coal-burning appliances indoors to heat their homes. If you do not have access to a warm home, it’s better to seek out community shelters rather than put yourself and your family in danger.

Never repair idling machines or cars indoors. Have you ever noticed large, open doors at mechanic shops? These large openings let toxic gases escape safely and are much larger than the typical home garage.

In many states, carbon monoxide detector laws are being passed that require all homes, new and old, be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors—a good start to home carbon monoxide poisoning prevention. However, the best protection against CO poisoning is a monitored carbon monoxide detection system—which is linked directly to a monitoring center, manned around the clock by professionals.
 

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