The Silent Danger of Heating Season

As furnaces switch back on for the year, so does the risk of a poison no one can see or smell.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, which is why it is often called the silent killer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires, while more than 100,000 people visit emergency rooms.

The gas can come from anything that burns fuel, including furnaces, gas ranges, water heaters, fireplaces, generators, and vehicles left running in an attached garage.

The symptoms can be easy to miss.

Headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and confusion can resemble the flu, but carbon monoxide poisoning usually does not cause a fever.

People who are sleeping or otherwise impaired may be especially vulnerable because they can become seriously ill before realizing something is wrong.

The best protection is a working carbon monoxide alarm.

The CDC recommends installing alarms with battery backup on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.

Test the alarms regularly and replace batteries as recommended by the manufacturer. A useful reminder is to check them when clocks change in the spring and fall.

Heating systems should also be inspected before cold weather sets in.

Homeowners should have furnaces, fireplaces, and other fuel-burning appliances checked to ensure they are venting properly and operating safely.

Generators and grills should never be used indoors.

They should also be kept well away from doors, windows and vents where exhaust could enter the home.

Never leave a vehicle running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.

Carbon monoxide gives no warning you can see or smell.

A working alarm, a properly maintained heating system, and a few basic safety habits can make all the difference.