With Colorado in the grip of bone-chilling cold, staying warm has become a priority, especially for our most vulnerable residents.
It’s crucial to keep in mind the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and just how quickly makeshift efforts to warm a home can turn tragic.
A Denver couple and their young child were hospitalized this week after they lit a charcoal grill inside their duplex. Rescue workers said the home had exceedingly high levels of carbon monoxide.
The colorless, odorless gas is a byproduct of combustion. Fumes from cars, gasoline engines, stoves, burning charcoal and wood, gas ranges and heating systems contain carbon monoxide. The gas can build up in unventilated spaces to concentrations that will poison people and animals.
The National Safety Council estimates that 300 people each year die from carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands more are hospitalized.
It’s a sneaky condition that sometimes leaves victims feeling dizzy, nauseated or confused. The elderly, infants and those with respiratory and heart problems are most susceptible. Sometimes, the afflicted think they’re coming down with the flu or a cold.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, experts say it’s important to act quickly to seek fresh air.
In the long term, safety authorities strongly suggest the installation of carbon monoxide detectors, which are relatively inexpensive.
But until this cold passes – and it will – it’s vitally important to be prudent about how to stay warm.
