Due to forecasts for extreme cold and high winds in the area over the next several days, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas and is referred to as the “invisible killer” because it can render victims unconscious or too weak to escape before they experience other symptoms of CO poisoning such as nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, lethargy, difficulty breathing and seizures.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 430 Americans die every year from accidental CO poisoning, and an additional 50,000 people in the U.S. visit hospital emergency departments each year due to accidental CO poisoning.
In winter storm events, CO poisoning is most commonly the result of individuals trying to provide heat and electricity during electrical power outages.
Click here for a list of life-saving tips.