Residents warned of CO danger

KILLINGWORTH — With cold weather approaching, Paul Hutcheon, Director of Health, Town of Killingworth, and the Killingworth Health Department reminds residents of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and encourages residents to have their heating systems serviced and carbon monoxide detectors installed in their homes. They also warn against the improper use of portable generators during power outages. Improper use of portable generators and charcoal grills lead to hospitalizations and deaths each year.

According to the state Health Department, every winter in Connecticut, hundreds of residents are taken to the emergency department and some are hospitalized and even die from CO poisoning resulting from malfunctioning furnaces, improperly placed portable generators and indoor use of charcoal grills. Residents can take preventive measures such as having their furnace serviced annually, installing a CO detector near all sleeping areas, replacing the batteries annually, and placing portable generators well away from the house to prevent CO poisonings.

CO is an invisible odorless gas that can be fatal and forms when fuels do not burn completely.

Breathing CO can lead to illness, unconsciousness and death. Often times, CO detectors are the only way to know that the deadly gas is present. CO detectors should be installed near all sleeping areas in a home to alert occupants of the gas.

To prevent CO poisoning, portable generators should be placed at least 20 feet from the home and should never be used in enclosed spaces such as porches, carports, garages and basements, even with open windows and doors. Opening windows and doors and using fans is not sufficient to prevent the build-up of deadly levels of CO.

The symptoms of CO poisoning mimic those of the flu, including headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness. If several members of a household experience these symptoms when they are home, but feel better when they are away from the home, there may be a CO problem.

The following safety tips are offered to prevent CO poisoning:

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home and outside of each bedroom.

Install new batteries at least once a year and replace detectors every five years as the sensors degrade.

Have heating systems, chimney flues, gas appliances and generators checked every year, and cleaned and serviced as needed by qualified appliance contractors.

Never use portable generators, pressure washer engines, or other gasoline-powered equipment (including tools) inside your home, garage, carport, basement or other enclosed spaces. Be sure to place portable generators at least 20 feet from your home.

Use gasoline-powered equipment outside and away from doors, windows or air intake vents.

Use grilling apparatus such as charcoal or gas grills outdoors only.

Opening windows and doors, and operating fans is not sufficient to prevent buildup of CO in a home. Check that gas dryer vents and automobile tail pipes are not plugged up with snow.

Make sure the exhaust pipe on your standby generator is pointing away from the house.

Get out of the house and seek medical help immediately if you or a family member has sudden onset of symptoms of CO poisoning. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, and loss of consciousness.

Call 911and the Connecticut Poison Control Center at 1-800-2221222.

For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning and prevention, contact:

CT DPH Environmental & Occupational Health Assessment Program, www.ct.gov/dph/co 860-5097740

Connecticut Poison Control Center http://poisoncontrol.uchc.edu 800-222-1222

Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov

To reach Paul Hutcheon, Director of Health, Town of Killingworth,, email phutcheon@townofkillingworth.com or call 860-6631765, x223.