By SHAELI KERSEE
shaeli@du2.byu.edu
The winter season brings the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.
An estimated 10,000 people are affected by carbon monxide poisoning each year in the United States. About 800 to 1,000 of those people die, according to the Utah Safety Council.
'Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most preventable causes of accidental death,' said Ron Moolenaar of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Furnaces, water heaters, boilers or appliances that burn any kind of fuel should be inspected by a professional to be sure that they are properly adjusted and working to manufacturers' instructions and building codes, according to the Utah Safety Council.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen to the body.
CO poisoning can cause flu-like symptoms -- fatigue, headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion and disorientation. At higher concentrations, CO poisoning can cause unconsciousness and even death.
The highest risk for adverse health effects of CO poisoning is for fetuses, infants, elderly and those with heart and respiratory illnesses.
Some pollutants that cause CO poisoning include cigarette smoke, paint removers and anything containing methylene chloride. Another danger is letting your car idle in the garage, regardless of whether the door is open or not. Do not use ovens or gas ranges to heat your home. If you use an unvented space heater, make sure the area is well ventilated.
There is treatment for someone who has been poisoned. Treatment may involve supplemental oxygen to help restore the body's normal oxygen supply. The first thing to do is to get the victim into open air. Then check for respiration and the pulse. If both are absent, then do CPR. If breathing is absent but there is a pulse, start mouth-to-mouth respiration and continue until the victim breathes or help arrives. If this is done soon enough most recover completely. If the poisoning is severe it can lead to permanent memory loss or brain damage.