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When carbon monoxide accumulates in your bloodstream, it causes carbon monoxide poisoning. When there is an excessive amount of carbon monoxide in the air, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This can result in severe tissue damage or even death.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is created when gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal, or another fuel is burned. Improperly vented appliances and engines, particularly in a closely sealed or enclosed location, may allow lethal quantities of carbon monoxide to develop.
If you suspect that you or someone you're with has carbon monoxide poisoning, get some fresh air and seek immediate medical attention.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause the following signs and symptoms:
- A dull headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Breathing difficulty
- Confusion
- Vision blur
- Loss of consciousness
Carbon monoxide poisoning is especially deadly for persons who are sleeping or drunk. Before anyone recognizes there's an issue, people may suffer irreversible brain damage or even die.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Inhaling combustion gases causes carbon monoxide poisoning. When you breathe in too much carbon monoxide, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This reduces the amount of oxygen available to your cells and organs.
Carbon monoxide is produced by a variety of fuel-burning equipment and engines. The amount of carbon monoxide produced by these sources is usually insignificant. However, when utilized in a closed or partially closed room, such as cooking with a charcoal grill indoors, carbon monoxide levels can rise to deadly levels.
Inhaling smoke during a fire might potentially result in carbon monoxide poisoning.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is especially harmful for:
- Unborn children: Carbon monoxide is more rapidly absorbed by fetal blood cells than by adult blood cells. This increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to unborn fetuses.
- Children: Young children breathe more often than adults, making them more vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Senior citizens: Carbon monoxide poisoning in the elderly may increase the risk of brain damage.
- People suffering from chronic heart disease: People who have a history of anemia or breathing issues are also more prone to become ill from carbon monoxide exposure.
- Those who go unconscious as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning: Loss of consciousness suggests a more serious level of exposure.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in the following symptoms, depending on the extent and duration of exposure:
- Brain injury that is permanent
- Heart damage, potentially leading to life-threatening cardiac problems
- Miscarriage or fetal death
- Death
HOW IS CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DIAGNOSED?
If you are brought to the emergency room with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, treatment can begin right away. The doctor may analyze a sample of your blood for carbon monoxide to confirm your diagnosis.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING?
If you or someone you're with develops signs or symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get out of the house as soon as possible and phone 911 or an emergency medical service. Headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, weakness, and confusion are some of the symptoms.
When you arrive at the hospital, your treatment may include:
- Pure oxygen inhalation: You may breathe pure oxygen through a mask placed over your nose and mouth in the emergency room. This allows more oxygen to reach your organs and tissues. If you are unable to breathe on your own, a machine (ventilator) may be used to assist you.
- Using a pressurized oxygen chamber: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is frequently advised. This therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a chamber with two to three times the normal air pressure. This accelerates the exchange of carbon monoxide for oxygen in your blood.
In extreme situations of carbon monoxide poisoning, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used.It protects heart and brain tissue, which are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide overdose. Pregnant women may also benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy since unborn babies are more vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.
HOW CAN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING BE PREVENTED?
Simple steps can aid in the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning:
Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed: Place one in your home's corridor near each sleeping area. Check the batteries at least twice a year, just like you do your smoke detector batteries. If the alarm goes off, get out of the house and dial 911 or the fire department. Carbon monoxide detectors for motor homes and boats are also available.
Before you start your car, open the garage door: Never leave a running car in your garage. If you have a connected garage, be especially cautious. Even with the garage door open, leaving your car running in a location adjacent to the rest of your house is never a good idea.
Use gas appliances as directed: Never heat your home using a gas stove or oven. Only use portable gas camp stoves outside. Only use fuel-burning space heaters while someone is awake to oversee them and doors or windows are open to allow fresh air in. Never use a generator in a confined space, such as a basement or garage.
Maintain the optimum ventilation of your fuel-burning equipment and engines. These include:
- Space heaters
- Furnaces
- Charcoal grills
- Cooking ranges
- Wood-burning stoves
- Car and truck engines
- Water heaters
- Fireplaces
- Portable generators
Inquire with your utility company about yearly inspections of any gas appliances, including your furnace.
- Maintain the condition of your fireplace: Every year, clean the chimney and flue of your fireplace.
- During renovation, keep vents and chimneys clear: Make sure they aren't obscured by tarps or trash.
- Before returning to the scene of an event, do some repairs: If you have carbon monoxide poisoning in your house, it is vital to locate and repair the source of the carbon monoxide before returning. The fire department or utility provider in your area may be able to assist.
- When working with solvents in a confined space, exercise extreme caution: When inhaled, methylene chloride, a solvent widely used in paint and varnish removers, can degrade (metabolize) into carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from methylene chloride exposure.
Use solvents exclusively outside or in well-ventilated places while dealing with them at home. Read the instructions carefully and observe the safety precautions on the label.