Chief's Report

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas and has no detectable odor. You will never know that CO is present. CO is a result from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces and coke ovens produce CO, another common source of exposure in the garage with your car engine, generator or other fuel equipment running.

How does CO harm you?

Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning—causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate. Besides tightness across the chest, initial symptoms of CO poisoning may include headache, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. Sudden chest pain may occur in people with angina. During prolonged or high exposures, symptoms may worsen and include vomiting, confusion, and collapse in addition to loss of consciousness and muscle weakness. Symptoms vary widely from person to person. CO poisoning may occur sooner in those most susceptible: young children, elderly people, people with lung or heart disease, people at high altitudes, or those who already have elevated CO blood levels, such as smokers. Also, CO poisoning poses a special risk to fetuses. CO poisoning can be reversed if caught in time. But even if you recover, acute poisoning may result in permanent damage to the parts of your body that require a lot of oxygen such as the heart and brain. Significant reproductive risk is also linked to CO.

Who is at risk?

You may be exposed to harmful levels of CO in boiler rooms, gas stove, gas hot water heater, gas dryer, or any other fuel burning product.

What can you do if you suspectsomeone has been poisoned?

When you suspect CO poisoning, promptly taking the following actions can save lives:

Call 911

Detectors:

Several detectors should be placed around your house and in each bedroom and boiler room. When in doubt call 911 and we will be happy to meter your home for any potential harmful gases.

Sincerly

Michael Cairney

Chief of Department

Putnam Lake Lake Fire