The night was too cold and windy to enjoy the traditional warmth of an evening campfire, so my family huddled around the table in our pop-up trailer and dealt cards under the light of a propane lantern. Halfway through the card game, we heard buzzing and soon realized the carbon monoxide (CO) detector near the floor of the trailer was alerting us. We quickly ushered the kids out of the trailer, turned the lantern off, and opened the windows for increased ventilation. Whew - what a close call!
Why the concern?
CO is an odorless, colorless gas produced whenever any fuel, such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, charcoal, or, in our case, propane is burned. When inhaled, it's absorbed into the bloodstream where it limits blood's ability to carry oxygen. CO forms a strong bond with hemoglobin in the blood and, once bonded, cannot be dislodged. As more CO is inhaled, life-sustaining oxygen does not reach your muscles, organs, and tissues. Eventually, a person suffocates, even though oxygen is still in the air.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Symptoms of exposure can begin with a dull headache and quickly move to weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, blurred vision, and eventually loss of consciousness. CO poisoning can be mistaken for the flu or food poisoning, since the symptoms are similar. However, if the symptoms come on suddenly, CO should be considered.
Where is CO found around the home?
The following appliances and equipment are sources of CO:
- Fuel fired furnaces and fuel burning space heaters
- Gas water heaters, stoves, and clothes dryers
- Fireplaces and wood stoves
- Charcoal grills
- Portable generators
- Automobiles and boats
- Lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other yard equipment
If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.
Who is the most vulnerable to CO poisoning?
- Unborn babies whose blood cells absorb CO more readily than an adult's
- Infants and children who take breaths more frequently than adults
- Senior citizens who are more likely to develop brain damage from inhaling CO
- Individuals already compromised by heart or lung problems
Back at the campground, we thought the thin fabric of the tent was well ventilated, but obviously not enough to prevent a build-up of dangerous CO fumes from the propane lantern. We were grateful that the CO detector alerted us to danger.