Do you know how to tell the difference between carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and the flu? The answer to this and many other questions you may have about preventing carbon monoxide poisoning can be found in a new fact sheet developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Aging Initiative.
Since many of the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to those of the flu, you need to recognize the difference. Symptoms could be the result of CO poisoning when you feel better when you are away from home and/or symptoms occur or get worse shortly after turning on a fuel-burning device or running a vehicle in an attached garage.
Carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas, is the most common cause of poisoning death in the United States. Unintentional CO poisonings are responsible for about 500 deaths and 15,000 visits to the emergency room each year.
Everyone is at risk of being poisoned by CO exposure. Older adults with health conditions such as chronic heart disease, anemia or respiratory problems are even more susceptible. Devices that produce CO include cars, boats, gasoline engines, stoves and heating systems. CO from these
sources can build up is enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by installing a carbon monoxide alarm, yet fewer than one third of homes have them installed.
An easy way to remember how you can prevent CO poisoning are the letters I CAN B.
* Install CO alarms near sleeping areas.
* Check heating systems and fuel-burning appliances
annually.
* Avoid the use of non-vented combustion appliances.
* Never burn fuels indoors except in devices such as
stoves or furnaces that are made for safe use.
* Be attentive to possible symptoms of CO poisoning.
This is the 8th fact sheet in a series of educational information for older adults and their caregivers about preventing exposure to harmful environmental hazards.
The fact sheet is available on the U.S. EPA Aging Initiative Web site:
http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/pcmp/index.htm.
Additional copies can be sent to you at no cost by completing an order form:
http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/order.htm
Kathy Sykes
Senior Advisor
Aging Initiative Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education Child and Aging Health Protection Division EPA (Mail Code 1107A) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Room 2512N (Ariel Rios North) Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 564-3651
FAX (202) 564-2733
www.epa.gov/aging