With dangerous cold weather on the way the Lancaster County Health Department is urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning that can occur during the winter months.
CO is an odorless and colorless gas and is referred to as the “invisible killer” because it can make people unconscious or too weak to escape before they experience other symptoms of CO poisoning like nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and seizures.
About 420 Americans die every year from accidental CO poisoning, and an additional 100,000 people in the U.S. visit hospital emergency departments each year due to accidental CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The health department says make sure battery-powered or battery back-up CO and smoke detectors are installed on every level and inside each bedroom of your home. Check all CO and smoke detectors to ensure they’re working properly and replace batteries as needed. CO detectors over seven years old should be replaced.
Residents are advised to never operate a portable generator inside any indoor space, including garages or sheds. Portable generators should be operated at least 20 feet away from homes and don’t operate generators within outside porches or carports.
In addition, don’t use a gas oven or range, charcoal briquets, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device to heat your home and Do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t properly vented to the outdoors.
The health department is stressing that people don’t warm up vehicles inside garages. If you suspect that you are experiencing CO poisoning symptoms, get fresh air immediately. Leave the home and call 911. Because CO can remain in your bloodstream for up to 24 hours, do not return indoors because you start feeling better.