Colorless, odorless carbon monoxide is a real danger this time of year

TEXARKANA — The death of a 13-year-old Redwater student from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has highlighted the danger of the deadly odorless gas.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is frequently more common during winter months when people are trying to heat their homes, whether they are using it as a primary or secondary source of heat, according to officials.

Micah Franco, 13, a student at Redwater Middle School. Micah and his 16-year-old sister were found unresponsive at their home Tuesday night. The girl was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital but is expected to recover.

The home was without electricity at the time and was being heated using a gasoline-powered electric generator indoors, according to the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office.

“This was a tragedy,” said Sheriff Jeff Neal. “Gas/ diesel powered generators, or any combustion engine, are unsafe for indoor use. Please use caution when using these items to power or heat a residence.”

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that kills hundred of people every year and makes thousands more very ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many household items including gas and oil burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills can produce the poison gas.

“Portable generators are great tools for providing emergency power but can be deadly if misused,” according to the Texarkana Arkansas Fire Department’s Facebook page.

Both Texarkana fire departments along with rural fire departments see an increase in house fires and carbon monoxide calls during winter months.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic other illnesses including the flu, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

In 2017, the Texarkana Texas Fire Department bought two CO-oximeters with grant money. It

allows them to get an idea of a person’s carbon monoxide levels at the scene where before, victims would’ve had to visit the emergency room for a blood test to determine their levels.

After the power went off in millions of homes across Texas during the state’s historic freeze in mid-February 2021, many families improvised to keep warm. Many brought charcoal grills inside or ran cars in enclosed spaces to combat the cold.

As a result, thousands of Texans unknowingly unleashed deadly gases into homes that, in many cases, were not equipped with potentially lifesaving carbon monoxide alarms, resulting in one the country’s largest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent history, according to The Texas Tribune.

At least 11 deaths were confirmed and more than 1,400 people sought care at emergency rooms and urgent care clinics for carbon monoxide poisoning during the week-long Texas outage, just 400 shy of the total for 2020. Children made up 42% of the cases Generators should only be used outside and more than 20 feet away from the home, doors or windows, according to the CDC.

Oil and gas furnaces should also be inspected every year. The CDC recommends installing battery-operated or battery back-up carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area in a home.

Generators are often used as a way to keep a home warm, and keep electric bills down, according to firefighters.

Many people struggle to pay energy bills during cold winter months. As a result, there are programs that can help manage payment of energy bills.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides money to help customers with energy bills and other energy-related expenses. LIHEAP is funded through the federal government and works with local community action agencies to help customers pay for and keep electric service in their homes. For information on how to apply for assistance, call 1-800-421-0762 and find out which community agency works for your energy provider.

SWEPCO has a plan to allow customers to help avoid seasonal spikes with it’s average monthly payment plan. The AMP plan helps spreads the costs of heating and cooling over the whole year. The customer can pay roughly the same amount during the coldest months and the hottest months as they pay during off-peak months.

Bowie Cass Electric Company and Southwest Arkansas REA also offer an average monthly bill option, according to their websites.