Carbon Monoxide Victims | National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (2024)

FAQs

What does carbon monoxide lead to answer? ›

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the blood. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, the body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage, or even death.

This is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It involves breathing pure oxygen in a chamber for a set amount of time. The air pressure in the chamber is 2 to 3 times higher than usual. This helps replace carbon monoxide with oxygen in the blood.

If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO - your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.

The carbon monoxide in your body leaves through your lungs when you breathe out (exhale), but there is a delay in eliminating carbon monoxide. It takes about a full day for carbon monoxide to leave your body. 1.5 HOW CAN CARBON MONOXIDE AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Carbon monoxide poisoning treatment

If you have a mild case of CO poisoning, you'll feel better just by going outside and breathing fresh air. More severe cases may require treatment with pure oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

A common source is unvented space heaters. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures, chest pain, disorientation, and loss of consciousness.

How can carbon monoxide build up in a home? The most common causes of carbon monoxide building up are incorrectly installed or poorly maintained or ventilated appliances – like stoves and hot water heaters. Poorly ventilated fireplaces and other gas- or wood-burning appliances can also pose danger.

For mild carbon monoxide poisoning, fresh air may be all that is needed. To treat more severe poisoning, high concentrations of oxygen are given, usually through a face mask. Oxygen hastens the disappearance of carbon monoxide from the blood and relieves symptoms.

Does Opening Windows Help With Carbon Monoxide? Opening windows helps the carbon monoxide quickly leave your home (as does opening doors). However, don't leave your exit path when getting out during this emergency to open as many windows as you can. Only open those that are along the way as you leave your home safely.

What household items put off carbon monoxide? ›

Air purifiers equipped with activated carbon filters do best against carbon monoxide. Activated carbon filters remove pollutants from the air through the filter and adhere to the surface of the activated carbon and become trapped.

If alone, perform CPR for at least a minute, then call emergency services. Further treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is upon the doctor's recommendation. The person may undergo blood tests, X-rays, heart and neurological evaluation, and oxygen therapy.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is breathing in pure oxygen. A healthcare provider will give you an oxygen mask to breathe through. This will offset the carbon monoxide buildup in your body.

About Carbon Monoxide

The incomplete burning of any material containing carbon, such as gasoline, natural gas, oil, kerosene, propane, charcoal, or wood, produces the poisonous gas. One of the most common sources of exposure in the home is the gas or kerosene-powered heater.

There is substantial evidence that CO can adversely affect health, participate in atmospheric chemical reactions that result in formation of ozone air pollution, and contribute to climate change.

A brief exposure to small amounts of carbon monoxide may cause headache, flushing, nausea, dizziness, vertigo, muscle pain or personality changes. Exposure to higher amounts may cause movement problems, weakness, confusion, lung and heart problems, loss of consciousness and death.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can be fatal or cause permanent damage to your health. CO is produced when carbon fuels don't burn completely. It has no smell or taste, and, in large quantities, it can kill very quickly.