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TOllR FAjVtlLY
AND! YOURSELF
POISONING
Developed by AAPCHO; Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ENGLISH/ CHINESE
AAPCHO
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
www.aapcho.org
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Carbon monoxide can be deadly
You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high
levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon
monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such
as gas, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If
appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used
properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not
harzardous. However, if appliances are not working
. properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of
CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally
every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunc-
tion or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.
Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Be
safe. Practice the DO's and DON'Ts of carbon
monoxide.
CO Poisoning Symptoms
Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate
levels, you or your family can get severe head-
aches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated
or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a
long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath,
mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have
longer term effects on your health. Since many of
these symptom are similar to those of the flu, food
poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that
CO poisoning could be the cause.
Play It Safe
If you experience symptoms that you think could be
from CO poisoning:
• DO
• GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY
Open doors and windows, turn off combustion
appliances and leave the house.
GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM
and tell the physician you suspect
CO poisoning. If CO poisoning has
occured, it can often be diagnosed
by a blood test done soon after
exposure.
• Be prepared to answer the following questions for
the doctor:
• Do your symptoms occur only in the house?
• Do they disappear or decrease when you
leave home and reappear when you return?
• Is anyone else in your household complaining
of similar symptoms? Did eveyone's
symptoms appear about the same time?
• Are you using any fuel-burning appliances in
the home?
. Has anyone inspected your appliances lately?
Are you certain they are working properly?
Prevention is the Key to Avoiding
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• DO
• Have your fuel-burning appliances-including oil
and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges
and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space
heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves - inspected
by a trained professional at
the beginning of every
heating season. Make
certain that the flues and
chimneys are connected, in
good condition, and not
blocked.
• Read and follow all of the
instructions that accompany
any fuel-burning device.
• Choose appliances that vent
their fumes to the outside
whenever possible, have them properly installed,
and maintain them according to manufacturers'
instructions.
• If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or
kerosene space heater,
carefully follow the cautions
that come with .the device.
Use the proper fuel and
keep doors to the rest of the
house open. Crack a
window to ensure enough
air for ventilation and proper
fuel-burning.
• Call EPA's IAQ INFO
Clearinghouse (1-800-
438-4318) or the
Consumer Product
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Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) for more
information on how to reduce your risks from CO
and other combustion gases and particles.
X DON'T
• Don't idle car in a garage-
even if the garage door to the
outside is open. Fumes can
build up very quickly in the
garage and living area of your
home.
• Don't use a gas oven to heat
your home, even for a short
time.
• Don't use a charcoal grill
indoors-even in a fireplace.
Don't sleep in any room with a unvented gas or
kerosene space neater.
Don't use any gasoline-powered
engines in enclosed spaces.
Don't ignore symptoms,
particularly if more than one
person is feeling them. You
could lose conciousness and die
if you do nothing.
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