Patient education: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (The Basics)

What is carbon monoxide? — Carbon monoxide ("CO") is a kind of gas. You can't see, smell, taste, or feel it. When fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, wood, or charcoal burn, they make CO. Exhaust fumes from cars and trucks, stoves, gas ranges, generators, and heating systems have CO in them.

What is CO poisoning? — CO poisoning happens if you breathe too much CO. It causes nausea and headaches, and can make you pass out. It can even kill you.

How do people get CO poisoning? — People can get CO poisoning if they breathe high levels of CO inside a closed space where fresh air can't get in. Common sources of CO poisoning include:

●Smoke from a fire

●A gas or oil furnace that is not working correctly

●Kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, camping stoves, and gas-powered electric generators

●Cars or other vehicles that are left running inside, indoor skating rinks, warehouses, and parking garages

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning? — The symptoms of CO poisoning can seem like the flu but without the fever. They include:

●Headache

●Confusion or dizziness

●Feeling very tired

●Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)

If you or someone you are with gets these symptoms and might have been around CO, move to a place with fresh air right away and call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1).

Breathing very high amounts of CO can cause:

●Passing out or losing consciousness

●Brain problems – These can include headaches, trouble concentrating or thinking, memory issues, personality changes, and abnormal movements. These problems usually happen within 20 days of CO poisoning, and can last for a year or even longer.

●Seizures – These are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can make you move or behave strangely, or pass out.

●Death

Is there a test for CO poisoning? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam. You also will need a blood test to check for CO in your body.

How is CO poisoning treated? — People with CO poisoning are treated in the hospital with oxygen. The oxygen can be given different ways, including:

●A mask placed over the nose and mouth

●A ventilator – This is a machine that helps you breathe through a tube that goes down your throat.

●A hyperbaric oxygen chamber – This is a full-body chamber with high pressure inside. It helps oxygen get into your body more quickly.

Can CO poisoning be prevented? — To lower your chances of CO poisoning:

●Put a CO detector in your home. This is a device that is like a smoke alarm. If you plug the detector into an electrical outlet, make sure it also has a battery back-up.

●Make sure all of the appliances in your home are working correctly.

●Have your heating system (including all chimneys and vents) checked to make sure it is working correctly.

●Never leave a car running in a garage, even with the garage door open.

●Never run a generator inside your house or garage. Also, never run a generator just outside of a window, door, or vent that goes into your house.

●Never use a charcoal grill or portable propane grill indoors.