Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that comes from burning things like kerosene, coal, or wood. It is a poison.
Breathing air containing only a very small amount of carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood.
What happens if a person breathes carbon monoxide?
- symptoms like the flu or a cold
- blurred vision
- stomach aches
- trouble breathing
- sleepiness
- ringing in the ears
Carbon monoxide can come from
- broken gas water heaters and furnaces
- space heaters that don’t have vents
- gas clothes dryers
- tobacco smoke
- fuels burned in wood and gas stoves
Carbon monoxide detectors help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
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