Red Bluff Daily News Special Publications
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Tehama County Medical Guide- 2015 25 You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but carbon monoxide (CO)—a gas released when fuel is burned— can be deadly. In your home, CO can come from a variety of things, such as a heat- ing system, cooking appliance, or •replace. It's also present in fumes from vehicles, small engines, and barbecues. There's little to worry about when appliances and other devices are working right and fumes are prop- erly vented. But when they're not, CO levels can get high enough to cause illness and death. Hundreds of people in the U.S. die every year from CO poisoning. "I've seen several cases of CO poisoning during the past several years due to poorly ventilated generators," says pathologist Dan Purtzer, MD, at Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta. "Living in the mountains as we do, we experience loss of power on a regular basis during the winter months. If you must use a portable generator for power, make sure it is in good work- ing order and properly ventilated." Keep your family safe When you need emergency care Call 911—or head to a Dignity Health North State emergency department: Mercy Medical Center Redding Emergency Department 2175 Rosaline Ave., Redding St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Emergency Department 2550 Sister Mary Columba Drive, Red Bluff Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta Emergency Department 914 Pine St., Mt. Shasta CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING What are the warning signs? At low levels, CO poisoning can mimic the Šu—but without a fever. Common symptoms include head- ache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. At higher levels, CO poisoning can cause severe headaches, confusion, and a loss of consciousness and death. If you think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air at once. Open windows, turn o‹ appliances or vehicles, and leave the area. Get to an emergency department and tell the medical sta‹ you suspect CO poisoning. What else can you do? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others, there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your family from this threat: Each year have an expert check anything in your home that burns gas, oil, or coal, such as your heating system, kitchen range, and water heater. Make sure all gas appliances are properly vented. Install a battery-operated CO detector, and check it at least twice a year. Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Never leave a vehicle running in the garage—even with the garage door open. And never try to heat your home with a device not meant for the job, such as a gas range or oven, a barbecue grill, or a portable camp stove. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING