Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risk Rises During Winter Storm Outages, UVA Health Warns

As winter storms roll into Virginia, experts at UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center are warning families to be extra careful with generators and other backup heating tools. When used incorrectly, these can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, which can be deadly.

Carbon monoxide is a gas you cannot see, smell, or taste, but it can build up quickly in enclosed spaces like homes, garages, or basements. It’s often created when people use portable generators, grills, or gas heaters indoors or too close to windows and vents.

“Power outages always bring a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Dr. Christopher Holstege, director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center. “Since you cannot see, smell, or taste CO, you may not be aware that you are breathing it.”

Even a short exposure to high levels of CO can cause headaches, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, and in serious cases, unconsciousness or death.

What Increases the Risk?

CO is most often released when burning fuel in machines or heating sources that don’t vent properly. Here are some common danger zones:

• Portable generators placed too close to homes
• Kerosene or propane heaters
• Gas ovens, woodstoves, or charcoal grills used for indoor heat
• Running cars or snow blowers inside garages

Even gas furnaces or chimneys that are clogged or not working right can fill a home with CO.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

The Blue Ridge Poison Center shared a few key safety tips for families during storm-related outages:

• Always place generators outside, at least 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows.
• Never run gasoline-powered tools or vehicles in closed spaces like garages or sheds.
• Don’t use ovens, grills, or camp stoves to heat your house—even for a short time.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home, especially near bedrooms.

People often confuse CO poisoning with the flu because symptoms can feel similar. But if a CO alarm goes off or you feel dizzy, sick, or confused during a power outage, get everyone (including pets) into fresh air immediately and call 911.

If you have questions or think someone may have been exposed to carbon monoxide, you can also call the Blue Ridge Poison Center for help. They’re open 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222. Calls are free and private.