POISONS

Carbon Monoxide

• Colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
• Produced by faulty fuel burning equipment (ex. gas furnaces, kerosene heaters, car exhaust and fireplaces)
• Poisonings occur when carbon monoxide builds up in a poorly ventilated area; you must maintain good ventilation and repair faulty equipment.
• Leading cause of death in a fire
• Carbon monoxide produces symptoms of asphyxiation (ex. dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, irritability and confusion)
• Never use a charcoal or gas grill inside a house, garage, closed-in porch, or tent.
• Do not use charcoal in the fireplace.
• When using the fireplace to burn wood or gas logs, make sure the flue is open and the chimney is not blocked.
• Have gas-burning furnaces and appliances checked yearly by a professional.
• Do not use a kerosene heater or gas logs for heat unless you have a working carbon monoxide alarm.
• Never use a generator inside your home - not even in the basement, garage or porch. Keep them outside, far away from the house.
• Never use a gas stove or oven to heat the house.
• Never leave the car engine running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.
• Never sleep in a parked car while the engine is running.
• Get a carbon monoxide detector (with a battery back-up system) for your home. If the alarm goes off - leave the house quickly and get outside into fresh air.

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If you think someone has carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Get the person out of the building and into fresh air.
• If the person feels sick in any way, call Carolinas Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
• If the person has fainted or is not breathing, perform first aid and call 911.
• Do not reenter the building until the Fire Department has checked for carbon monoxide and determined that the building is safe.