Carbon Monoxide Risks at Home

What Is Carbon Monoxide?
- Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fossil fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, oil and methane) burn incompletely. In your home, heating and cooking equipment are possible sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles running in an attached garage could also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Consumers can protect themselves against CO poisoning by maintaining, using, and properly venting heating and cooking equipment, by being cautious when using vehicles in attached garages, and by installing carbon monoxide alarms.
What is the effect of exposure to CO?
- CO replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, eventually causing suffocation. Mild CO poisoning feels like the flu, but more serious poisoning leads to difficulty breathing and even death. Just how sick people get from CO exposure varies greatly from person to person, depending on age, overall health, the concentration of the exposure (measured in parts per million), and the length of exposure. Higher concentrations are dangerous even for a short time.
How can you protect yourself from CO poisoning?
- The best defenses against CO poisoning are safe use of vehicles (particularly in attached garages) and proper installation, use and maintenance of household cooking and heating equipment.
- Massachusetts law requires carbon monoxide alarms in all residences.

What to do if your CO alarm goes off

If anyone shows signs of CO poisoning:

(headache/fatigue/shortness of breath/nausea/dizziness/flu-like symptoms)

Have everyone leave the building right away. Leave windows and doors closed as you go to assist us in locating the source of the problem. Also leave on any furnaces, heaters, or other fuel burning appliances if they were on when the alarm sounded.

Use a neighbor's telephone or a cell phone to dial 9-1-1 to notify the Fire Department. Be sure to inform the dispatcher if anyone is feeling ill.

The Fire Department will respond to provide medical attention and to check your home for a source of the carbon monoxide.

If no one has symptoms of CO poisoning:

Have everyone leave the building right away. Please leave windows and doors closed to assist us in locating the source of the problem. Also leave on any furnaces, heaters, or other fuel burning appliances if they were on when the alarm sounded. We will come and investigate the problem using our CO metering equipment.

Use a neighbor's telephone or a cell phone to dial 9-1-1 to notify the Fire Department.

Be on the lookout for the symptoms of CO poisoning listed above.

If any symptoms appear, follow the instructions above.

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