MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – On average, carbon monoxide poisoning sends about 500 Wisconsinites to the emergency room each year. This is the time of year where carbon monoxide risks become especially dangerous. Known as the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that has no color, odor, or taste. It is the most common cause of deadly poisoning and can poison people and pets with no warning, unless detected early enough.
The gas is produced whenever a material burns (including furnaces, motor vehicles, clothes dryers, and wood stoves) and can build up indoors and reach dangerous levels. CO poisoning mimics flu symptoms (including headache, dizziness, nausea), so victims often don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late.
Without a detector, CO can reach dangerous levels. Because it leaves the body when the body is removed from the CO environment, someone leaving their CO-filled home may feel fine after leaving – but pets that remain in the home would continue to be susceptible.
Wisconsin law requires a CO detector on each floor of the home or duplex – including basement, and residents are encouraged to test these detectors regularly. Call the local fire department any time the detector is triggered.
“If your CO detector does sound, don’t treat as a false alarm – call us,” said Marshfield Fire and Rescue Chief Pete Fletty. “We don’t want people guessing. We have sensitive technical meters that are calibrated daily and will determine the source of the CO.”
The fire department will check homes completely free of charge.
“We DO NOT charge and won’t charge for a CO call,” said Fletty. “We want to make sure people are safe and protected. We’d rather come out and assure there’s no CO in the home than have the tragic alternative.”
MFRD shared the following tips to reduce CO exposure:
- Have furnace and wood-burning stoves inspected annually.
- Check CO detectors regularly (during Daylight Saving Time is a good rule of thumb).
- Replace detectors as recommend by the manufacturer (many last 10 years).
- Keep furnace vent clear of snow.
- Do not run gas or propane heaters or grill in the home or garage.
- Don’t warm up your vehicles in the garage. Pull the vehicle outside and close the garage door.
- Operate generators at least 20 feet from the home – don’t operate inside the home or garage.
Fletty said that these tips may not seem like much, but they can make a big difference.
“For example, we’ve had CO calls where there was CO in the home that came from a car parked outside of the home,” he said. “Also, keeping the furnace vents clear is important especially during the winter storms we’ve had because gas can then get backed up in the home because it has no where else to go.”
If you have any questions or concerns about CO, contact Marshfield Fire and Rescue at 715-486-2094. If it’s an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
