Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue and Red, White and Blue offer Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips in Light of Recent Poisonings

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Summit County, CO

During the recent winter storm in the northwest United States, the Associated Press reports that nearly 100 people suffered carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. These injuries resulted from use of generators and charcoal grills to heat and light their homes during storm-related power outages. Since similar winter storm conditions are a fact of life in Summit, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue and Red, White and Blue Fire District want to remind residents of some safety precautions to take to mitigate the dangers associated with carbon monoxide exposure.

"Carbon Monoxide poisoning mirrors the symptoms of other illnesses, including flu and food poisoning," noted Brandon Williams, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue’s public information officer, "and, therefore, can be difficult to self-diagnose." The National Fire Protection Association notes symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, light headedness or headaches. High levels of CO can be quickly fatal.

To protect yourself against carbon monoxide exposure in the home:

♦ Install CO alarms in a central location in the home outside sleeping areas.

♦ Test CO alarms once a month and replace CO alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

♦ Inspect fuel-burning equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, stoves and portable heaters) for proper operation.

♦ Never use an oven to heat your home. Remember that barbeque grills, both charcoal and gas, produce CO and are only for use outside. Never use them in the home, garage or near building openings.

♦ Warm vehicles outside, never in the garage. Do not run a vehicle, generator or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open.

In addition, please note that CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. The devices measure different conditions and you need to know the difference in how they sound. If your CO alarm does sound, move all building occupants outside immediately to get fresh air. Once in a fresh air location, call Summit County’s nonemergency line at (970) 668-8600. Remain in fresh air until emergency responders say it is OK to return inside.

Both Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue and Red, White and Blue Fire District offer free in-home testing should you be concerned about CO levels in your home or business. Please, don’t hesitate to call us at either (970) 513-4201 for Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue or (970) 453-2474 to request an inspection or additional information regarding carbon monoxide risks.

---

Press Contact:
Capt. Kim Scott, PIO
cell: 970.485.4374
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or
Brandon Williams
Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue
(970) 513-4201

---

« Back