As we enter the winter season, Western Health asks the public to play it safe when it comes to using items that can produce carbon monoxide emissions in and around their homes, garages, and sheds.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that forms whenever you burn fuel like propane, gasoline, oil, and wood. Because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless, it is hard to detect without a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide can cause short and long term health problems before people even notice it is present.
“We would encourage anyone using a fuel burning device to make sure that they are using them safely and in a properly ventilated way”, said Dr. Greg Mercer, Regional Medical Officer of Health. “It is important that people understand the serious medical consequences that carbon monoxide poisoning can cause”.
There are several sources of carbon monoxide that are more commonly used in our region that can pollute indoor air. Examples are:
- Fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces, gas stoves and water heaters (especially those that are not properly vented or maintained) or when chimneys are blocked or dirty;
- Idling vehicles in garages that are attached to homes or buildings;
- Idling snowmobiles or snowblowers in garages or sheds; and
- Barbecues, grills, space heaters and other non-vented fuel-burning appliances that are designed for outdoor use.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning can be preventable”, said Dr. Brent Thistle, Chief of Emergency Services for Western Health. “Simple safety precautions are the key to ensuring that people protect their health and the health of their families”.
Safety precautions include:
- Make sure that all fuel burning appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces, gas stoves and water heaters are well-maintained and working properly. Have your appliances inspected by a professional at least once a year and be sure to use a ventilation hood for gas stoves.
- Never use a barbecue indoors, and don't use kerosene or oil lamp in enclosed areas unless they are specifically designed for indoor use.
- Don't let vehicles idle in the garage, especially when the garage door is closed. Also, keep the doors between your house and the garage closed.Never run gas powered snow blowers, snowmobiles or lawnmowers in the garage.
- Purchase a carbon monoxide detector and place it where you can hear the alarm.
- No smoking please! Since tobacco smoke is a source of carbon monoxide, don't let people smoke indoors.
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For more information, contact
Heidi Staeben-Simmons, Director of Communications. 709-637-5252
Backgrounder:
What are the health risks of carbon monoxide poisoning?
When you breathe in carbon monoxide, it builds up quickly and combines with the blood to produce "carboxyhemoglobin" (COHb), which reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen.
The effects of exposure to CO can be very serious:
- At low levels, symptoms include headaches, tiredness, shortness of breath and impaired motor functions. These symptoms sometimes feel like the flu.
- At high levels, or if people are exposed to low levels for long periods of time, people can experience dizziness, chest pain, tiredness, poor vision and difficulty thinking.
- At very high levels, carbon monoxide can cause convulsions, coma and even death.
How Can I Eliminate Sources of CO in My Home?
The most important step you can take to eliminate the possibility of CO poisoning is to ensure that CO never has an opportunity to enter your home. This is your first line of defence. Review this list to minimize the risk of CO in your home.
- Have a qualified technician inspect and clean fuel-burning appliances yearly, before the cold weather sets in, to ensure they are in good working order.
- Have a qualified technician inspect chimneys and vents yearly for cracks, blockages (e.g., bird's nests, twigs, and old mortar), corrosion or holes.
- Check fireplaces for closed or blocked flues.
- Check with a qualified technician before enclosing heating and hot water equipment in a smaller room, to ensure there is adequate air for proper combustion.
- If you have a powerful kitchen exhaust fan or downdraft cooktop, have a qualified technician check that its operation does not pull fumes back down the chimney.
- Never use propane or natural gas stove tops or ovens to heat your home.
- Never start a vehicle, snowmobile, snowblower, lawnmower or gas trimmer in a closed garage; open the garage doors first. Pull the car (or other item)out immediately onto the driveway, then close the garage door to prevent exhaust fumes from being drawn into the house.
- Do not use a remote automobile starter when the car is in the garage; even if the garage doors are open.
- Never operate propane, natural gas or charcoal barbecue grills indoors or in an attached garage.
- Avoid the use of a kerosene space heater indoors or in a garage. If its use is unavoidable provide combustion air by opening a window while operating. Refuel outside after the unit has cooled.
- Never run a lawnmower, snowblower, or any gasoline-powered tool such as a whipper-snipper or pressure washer inside a garage, shed or house.
- The use of fossil fuels for refrigeration, cooking, heat, and light inside tents, trailers, and motorhomes can be very dangerous. Be sure that all equipment is properly vented to the outside and use electric or battery-powered equipment where possible.
- Regularly clean the clothes dryer ductwork and outside vent cover for blockages such as lint, snow, or overgrown outdoor plants.
- Reduce or eliminate the use of fondue heaters indoors.
- If you live close to a road with heavy traffic, outdoor carbon monoxide levels can affect your indoor air quality, especially during rush hour. Such levels should not set off a CO alarm, but slightly elevated CO levels might be observable on some types of CO detectors with a digital display.
Response To A Source Of CO
If your detector sounds an alarm and you have an obvious source of CO, such as an unvented kerosene heater:
- evacuate the house, including pets and do a head count
- if anyone is suffering from flu-like symptoms, contact your nearest emergency department or 911 where available
- remove or turn off the source
- ventilate the house
- reset the alarm
- do not re-occupy the house until the alarm ceases
- take steps to avoid this situation in the future.