CO fumes can poison kids quickly

Children play at a flooded church that is now a relief center in Orange, Texas, as people in the state slowly move toward recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey on Wednesday. The hurricane left many without electricity. People need to know the dangers of carbon monoxide as they turn to alternate methods for heat. GETTY IMAGES/SPENCER PLATT

Children play at a flooded church that is now a relief center in Orange, Texas, as people in the state slowly move toward recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey on Wednesday. The hurricane left many without electricity. People need to know the dangers of carbon monoxide as they turn to alternate methods for heat. GETTY IMAGES/SPENCER PLATT
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
By Dayton Children's Hospital
Sept 11, 2017
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As Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, hundreds of thousands of people were left without power, so many turned to alternative sources of fuel or electricity. This prompted the CDC to issue a health advisory to warn about the dangers of carbon monoxide from these alternate methods.

It’s a good lesson for us here, too, as our temperatures begin to dip at night and people may be turning on their furnaces for the first time or using other methods to stay warm, like space heaters.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas — frequently called “the silent killer.” It kills more than 500 people and accounts for an estimated 15,000 emergency department visits each year in the U.S. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell, CO can impact your family before you even know there is a problem. Kids are especially susceptible. CO can make a child seriously ill in amounts that would barely affect an adult.

Key sources of CO are malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, space heaters and fireplaces but keep in mind CO is produced anytime a fuel is burned. This is why CO poisoning strikes more in colder months than any other time in the year.

Signs of CO poisoning can be easily mistaken for the flu. They include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea or fatigue. “If you suspect CO poisoning, patients should get checked right away. Dangerous levels in the patient can be detected quickly with a simple blood test,” says Lisa Schwing, RN, trauma program manager at Dayton Children’s Hospital. “Suspect CO poisoning when flulike symptoms exist in more than one person in the household and symptoms seem to lessen in those who spend some time outside the home.”

Take a few easy precautions to keep your family safe:

1. Install a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home. Check batteries regularly.

2. Make sure that all your heating appliances are properly installed, venting to the outside and operating according to code.

3. Have furnaces and chimneys professionally inspected every year. Chimneys are easily blocked by bird nests or leaves.

4. Never run your car, or any other gas powered vehicle, like a lawn mower, in an enclosed area. Even if the door is open in the garage, fumes can accumulate quickly.

5. Check that your car’s exhaust pipe is clear to avoid fumes backing up into the car.

6. Never use gas ovens or ranges to heat your home.

7. Only use generators, grills, gas-powered tools and similar items outside. Avoid areas close to windows, doors or vents that could draw the fumes inside.

This look at a children’s health or safety issue comes from Dayton Children’s Hospital. Email: newsroom@childrensdayton.org.

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Dayton Children's Hospital