Mike Johnson | Examiner

Five people in Fruitport Township were taken to the hospital for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning they received as a result of a generator running in their garage. The fumes consumed the garage and invaded the home, causing the five to lose consciousness before being discovered by a neighbor. The household was among those that lost power during recent storms ("Muskegon News").

A tragedy. This writer hopes that the family recover from their injuries soon. What can we do to avoid, or guard against, carbon monoxide poisoning? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbon monoxide "can kill you before you are aware it is in your home." Odorless and colorless, carbon monoxide (CO) is dangerous to you and your family's health; consequently, you should learn what sources of CO you have in your home and have them tested as soon as possible.

Sources of carbon monoxide include

"unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. ("An introduction to indoor air quality" )

Many of us have the aforementioned appliances and utilities, and it is important that we have these checked by a professional inspector to ensure that the levels of CO are within safe limits. The EPA says, "average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher" ("An introdcution to air quality"). Because many of us do not have the tools to measure levels of corbon monoxide near said appliances, it is imperative that we hire someone to inspect these for us.

Be sure to have your appliances and utilities inspected immediately if anyone in your home is experiencing dizziness, fatigue, difficulty seeing, or lack of coordination, some key symptoms of overexposure to CO. Because CO can be deadly at high doses, you should get your family out of the house to avoid further exposure, at least until after inspection. It is better to be safe than sorry, truly.

Listed below are the EPA's recommendations for lessening the incidence of CO poisoning in your home:

    • Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.
    • Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.
    • Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.
    • Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
    • Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.
    • Have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.
    • Do not idle the car inside garage.
    • Keep gas appliances properly adjusted. ("An introduction to indoor air quality" )

    Following the above precautions and purchasing a couple of decent carbon monoxide detectors will greatly improve your odds of avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning.