Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill.
Many household items including gas and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills produce this poison gas.
Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit an emergency department, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.
CO Poisoning Prevention
Learn how you can help you protect yourself and your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide.
Sources of Exposure
CO is produced as a result of incomplete burning of fuels like coal, wood, charcoal, natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and heating oil.
It can be produced by portable generators, small gasoline engines, charcoal grills, gas stoves, portable fuel-powered space heaters, automobile exhaust from attached garages, and smoking tobacco.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.”
If you breathe in a lot of CO, it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping, intoxicated, or under the influence of other substances can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.
The clinical presentation of acute CO poisoning varies depending on the duration and magnitude of exposure. The most common signs and symptoms include headache, nausea, lethargy (or fatigue), weakness, abdominal discomfort/pain, confusion, and dizziness. Other signs and symptoms may include visual disturbances including blurred vision, numbness and tingling, ataxia, irritability, agitation, chest pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath), palpitations, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
Prevention
CO is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. However, you can reduce your risk of CO poisoning with a few small steps.
Information for Health Care Providers
Reporting Requirement
All practitioners, health care facilities, and laboratories in Florida are required to notify the Florida Department of Health of diseases or conditions of public health significance under section 381.0031, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 64D-3, Florida Administrative Code.
CO poisoning is a reportable condition in Florida. Physicians and laboratories are required to contact the local county health department or the Florida Department of Health at 850-245-4401 to report a suspected case of CO poisoning. Florida Department of Health has standard case definition and surveillance and investigation guidance for CO poisoning.
CO Poisoning data is available at Environmental Public Health Tracking and Florida Morbidity Statistics Report.