If You're Experiencing Symptoms RIGHT NOW
Do these 4 things immediately:
- 1.Get outside to fresh air - Take everyone with you (including pets)
- 2.Call 911 - Tell them you suspect CO poisoning
- 3.Don't go back inside - Not even to turn off appliances or grab belongings
- 4.Seek medical attention - Even if you feel better outside, you need oxygen therapy
If multiple people in your home have the same symptoms (headache, nausea, fatigue) that improve when you leave the house, this is carbon monoxide poisoning until proven otherwise. Don't wait to confirmâevacuate now.
Why Carbon Monoxide Is Called the "Silent Killer"
Unlike smoke (which you can see and smell) or natural gas (which utility companies add a rotten-egg scent to), carbon monoxide is completely invisible, odorless, and tasteless. You cannot detect it with your senses. By the time you realize something is wrong, you may already be too impaired to save yourself.
What Makes CO Poisoning So Insidious:
1. Symptoms Mimic Common Illnesses
The early symptoms of CO poisoningâheadache, nausea, fatigue, dizzinessâare identical to the flu, food poisoning, or migraine. People often dismiss symptoms and try to "sleep it off," which is exactly when CO poisoning becomes fatal. You fall asleep, CO levels keep rising, and you never wake up.
2. Everyone in the House Gets "Sick" at the Same Time
Unlike a viral illness that spreads over days, CO poisoning affects everyone simultaneously. If your whole family wakes up with headaches on a Saturday morning after running the furnace all night, that's not food poisoningâthat's carbon monoxide. Most people don't make this connection until someone collapses.
3. Symptoms Improve When You Leave the House
This is the key diagnostic clue doctors look for: Do symptoms get better when you're at work/school and worse at home? CO poisoning is one of the few conditions that follows this pattern. If you feel fine all day at work but develop a "migraine" every evening at home, test for CO immediately.
4. It Happens in Winter When Windows Are Closed
Most CO deaths occur November-March when furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters run constantly and homes are sealed tight for heat retention. Summer CO poisoning is rare because open windows provide natural ventilation. Wintertime "flu" symptoms? Might be CO.
5. Pets Get Sick First (Often Ignored as Separate Issue)
Dogs and cats are smaller and breathe faster, so they show CO poisoning symptoms before humans. If your dog is suddenly lethargic, vomiting, or having trouble walkingâand then YOU start feeling sick an hour laterâevacuate immediately. Your pet is the canary in the coal mine.
The Cherry-Red Lips Myth
Many people believe CO poisoning victims have cherry-red or bright pink lips and skin. This is trueâbut only in severe, often fatal poisoning after hours of exposure. You won't see this symptom early enough to act. Don't wait for cherry-red lips to confirm CO poisoning. By then, it's too late.
CO Poisoning Symptoms: Mild to Severe
Symptoms progress based on CO concentration (measured in parts per million, or ppm) and exposure duration. Here's what happens at each level:
Mild Exposure (35-70 ppm)
Symptoms develop after 1-2 hours
Common Symptoms:
đ¤ Headache
Dull, throbbing headache that doesn't respond to painkillers. Often described as feeling like a tight band around the head.
đ´ Fatigue
Overwhelming tiredness despite adequate sleep. You feel like you could sleep for 12 hours.
𤢠Nausea
Upset stomach, loss of appetite. May feel like food poisoning or stomach flu.
đľ Dizziness
Lightheadedness, feeling off-balance. Room may feel like it's spinning slightly.
đ¨ Shortness of Breath
Mild breathlessness with exertion. May feel winded going upstairs.
đ§ Brain Fog
Difficulty concentrating, mild confusion. Trouble remembering things or making decisions.
â ď¸ What to Do:
If you recognize these symptoms and suspect CO (especially if multiple people have symptoms or they started after turning on heating):
- ⢠Open windows and doors immediately (ventilate)
- ⢠Turn off all fuel-burning appliances (furnace, stove, fireplace, water heater)
- ⢠Get everyone outside to fresh air
- ⢠Call 911 or go to ERâtell them you suspect CO exposure
- ⢠Do NOT re-enter until fire department tests and clears your home
Key indicator: If symptoms improve after 30-60 minutes in fresh air, it was likely CO poisoning, not the flu. The flu doesn't get better when you go outside.
Moderate Exposure (150-200 ppm)
Serious symptoms within 1-2 hours
Symptoms (All mild symptoms PLUS):
𤎠Vomiting
Repeated vomiting, unable to keep food or water down. Severe nausea.
đľâđŤ Severe Confusion
Disorientation, trouble forming coherent thoughts. May not know where you are or what day it is.
đď¸ Vision Problems
Blurred vision, seeing double, difficulty focusing. Colors may appear washed out.
đ Rapid Heartbeat
Heart racing or pounding. May feel like anxiety or panic attack.
đŞ Muscle Weakness
Legs feel like jelly. Difficulty walking or standing. May stumble or fall.
𼾠Chest Pain
Tightness or pressure in chest. Heart working harder to deliver oxygen.
đ¨ EMERGENCY - Call 911 Immediately
At this level, you're at serious risk of losing consciousness. You may not be able to save yourself if symptoms worsen. This is a medical emergency.
- ⢠Evacuate immediatelyâdon't try to find the CO source
- ⢠Call 911 from outsideâtell them CO poisoning suspected
- ⢠If anyone is unconscious or seizing, tell 911 dispatcher immediately
- ⢠Don't drive yourself to hospitalâyou may pass out while driving
- ⢠You need hyperbaric oxygen therapy within hours
Critical: At this level, permanent brain damage can occur if exposure continues. Even if you feel better outside, you MUST get medical treatment. Carbon monoxide stays in your bloodstream for 4-6 hours without oxygen therapy.
Severe/Fatal Exposure (400+ ppm)
Life-threatening symptoms within 2-3 hours
Symptoms:
đ´ Loss of Consciousness
Passing out, unable to wake up. This is the point of no return for many victims.
đŤ Respiratory Failure
Breathing becomes shallow or stops entirely. Brain starved of oxygen.
⥠Seizures
Convulsions, violent shaking. Brain damage from oxygen deprivation.
đ Heart Attack
Cardiac arrest from heart working too hard with insufficient oxygen.
đ§ Coma
Complete loss of consciousness. If not rescued within minutes, death follows.
â ď¸ Death
At 1,600 ppm, death occurs within 1-2 hours. At 3,200 ppm, within 10-30 minutes.
đ If You Find Someone Unconscious:
- 1. Do NOT enter to rescue them - You will also be overcome by CO and collapse
- 2. Call 911 immediately - Tell dispatcher someone is unconscious, suspected CO
- 3. Open windows/doors from outside if possible - Ventilate without entering
- 4. Wait for fire department - They have protective equipment and oxygen
- 5. If you must enter (life/death), hold breath and drag victim outside FAST - Don't stay inside more than 10 seconds
Tragic reality: Many CO deaths are "rescuers"âfamily members who find an unconscious loved one and run inside to save them, only to collapse themselves. By the time fire department arrives, 2-3 people are dead instead of one. If someone is unconscious from CO, you cannot save them without professional equipment. Call 911 and stay outside.
Who Is Most Vulnerable to CO Poisoning?
While carbon monoxide is deadly for everyone, certain groups are at higher risk of severe complications or faster symptom onset:
Infants and Young Children
Children breathe faster than adults (20-30 breaths per minute vs. 12-16), meaning they inhale more CO in the same time period. They also have smaller body mass, so a given CO level affects them more severely. Infants can't verbalize symptoms, so parents often don't realize the baby is being poisoned until the child is lethargic or unresponsive.
Watch for:
- ⢠Unusual fussiness or crying
- ⢠Refusal to eat or drink
- ⢠Lethargy, sleepier than normal
- ⢠Vomiting without other illness symptoms
- ⢠Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
Pregnant Women (Risk to Fetus)
Carbon monoxide crosses the placenta and concentrates in fetal blood at levels 10-15% higher than maternal blood. The developing fetus is extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Even mild CO exposure that causes minor symptoms in the mother can cause severe fetal distress, miscarriage, or brain damage to the unborn child.
If you're pregnant and suspect CO:
- ⢠Evacuate immediatelyâfetal risk is high even at low CO levels
- ⢠Go to ER for fetal monitoring and maternal oxygen therapy
- ⢠Inform doctors you're pregnant so they can monitor baby
- ⢠Long-term exposure can cause developmental delays
Elderly (65+)
Older adults often have pre-existing heart or lung conditions, making them less able to compensate for reduced oxygen delivery. CO exposure can trigger heart attacks in people with coronary artery disease. Additionally, elderly individuals living alone may not recognize symptoms or may be too confused to call for help.
Increased risk if:
- ⢠History of heart disease, COPD, or asthma
- ⢠Taking medications that affect alertness
- ⢠Living alone (no one to notice symptoms)
- ⢠Using space heaters or older heating systems
People with Heart or Lung Conditions
If you have coronary artery disease, heart failure, COPD, asthma, or anemia, your body already struggles to deliver oxygen to tissues. CO exposure (which reduces oxygen-carrying capacity of blood) can push you into cardiac arrest or respiratory failure at levels that would only cause headaches in healthy individuals.
Conditions that increase vulnerability:
- ⢠Coronary artery disease or angina
- ⢠Congestive heart failure
- ⢠COPD or emphysema
- ⢠Asthma or chronic bronchitis
- ⢠Anemia or sickle cell disease
Pets (Especially Dogs and Cats)
Pets are often the first to show symptoms because they're smaller and breathe faster than humans. Dogs and cats can't tell you they feel sick, but behavioral changes are obvious. If your pet suddenly becomes lethargic, vomits, struggles to walk, or collapsesâand heating appliances have been runningâ suspect CO immediately.
Pet CO poisoning symptoms:
- ⢠Lethargy, weakness, difficulty standing
- ⢠Vomiting or loss of appetite
- ⢠Difficulty breathing, panting excessively
- ⢠Uncoordinated movements, stumbling
- ⢠Cherry-red gums (in severe cases)
- ⢠Seizures or loss of consciousness
If your pet shows these symptoms: Get them (and yourself) outside immediately. Call your vet to explain CO exposureâthey'll need oxygen therapy just like humans. Many pet deaths from CO happen because owners don't realize the connection until it's too late.
Long-Term Effects of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Surviving acute CO poisoning doesn't mean you're in the clear. Both acute high-level exposure and chronic low-level exposure can cause lasting damage:
Delayed Neurological Sequelae (DNS)
3-40% of severe CO poisoning survivors develop delayed neurological symptoms that appear 2-40 days after the initial poisoningâeven if they seemed to recover fully at first. This is called DNS (Delayed Neurological Sequelae).
Cognitive Symptoms:
- ⢠Memory loss, especially short-term
- ⢠Difficulty concentrating
- ⢠Confusion, disorientation
- ⢠Personality changes (irritability, depression)
- ⢠Slowed mental processing
Physical Symptoms:
- ⢠Parkinson's-like tremors
- ⢠Muscle weakness or paralysis
- ⢠Vision or hearing loss
- ⢠Incontinence
- ⢠Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
If you experienced severe CO poisoning: Inform your doctor. You may need neurological monitoring for 4-6 weeks after exposure. Early intervention (hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 24 hours) reduces DNS risk but doesn't eliminate it.
Chronic Low-Level CO Exposure
Repeated exposure to low CO levels (30-70 ppm) over weeks or months causes cumulative damage. This happens when furnaces malfunction slowly over time or cars idle in attached garages regularly. You never have an acute emergency, but you're being slowly poisoned.
Symptoms of chronic exposure:
- ⢠Persistent headaches that doctors can't explain
- ⢠Chronic fatigue (always tired, never rested)
- ⢠"Brain fog" that doesn't improve
- ⢠Depression or anxiety (CO affects neurotransmitters)
- ⢠Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- ⢠Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
The diagnostic clue: Symptoms improve when you're away from home for extended periods (vacations, business trips) and return when you come back. If you feel mysteriously better after a week-long trip, test your home for CO immediately.
Heart Damage from CO Exposure
Carbon monoxide forces your heart to work harder with less oxygen available. This can cause:
- ⢠Myocardial infarction (heart attack) during or shortly after exposure
- ⢠Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) that persist for days/weeks
- ⢠Cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle) in severe cases
- ⢠Increased risk of future cardiovascular disease
If you have a history of CO poisoning, inform your doctorâespecially before surgeries or if you develop cardiac symptoms. Your heart may have sustained damage that affects future treatment.
How Doctors Diagnose CO Poisoning
If you arrive at the ER suspecting CO poisoning, here's what will happen:
Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) Blood Test
This measures the percentage of your hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein in blood) that's bound to carbon monoxide instead of oxygen. Normal levels in non-smokers are 0-3%. Smokers typically run 3-8%.
Important: COHb levels drop quickly once you're breathing fresh air (50% reduction in 5 hours). If you evacuated hours before the ER visit, your level might be "normal" but you still had severe poisoning. Tell doctors how long you were exposed and when you left the building.
Other Diagnostic Tests:
- â˘EKG (electrocardiogram): Checks for heart damage or arrhythmias from CO exposure
- â˘Chest X-ray: Rules out pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs) from severe poisoning
- â˘Neurological exam: Tests cognitive function, reflexes, coordination
- â˘Pulse oximetry: Measures oxygen saturation (but can give false-high readings with CO)
Treatment for CO Poisoning
100% Oxygen Therapy (Standard Treatment)
The primary treatment for CO poisoning is breathing 100% pure oxygen through a tight-fitting mask. This:
- ⢠Speeds up elimination of CO from your bloodstream
- ⢠Reduces half-life of CO from 5 hours (breathing room air) to 90 minutes (100% oxygen)
- ⢠Prevents brain and heart damage from oxygen deprivation
- ⢠Usually administered for 4-6 hours minimum
Most mild-to-moderate cases recover fully with standard oxygen therapy if treated within a few hours of exposure.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) - Severe Cases
For severe poisoning (COHb >25%, loss of consciousness, neurological symptoms, pregnant women), doctors may recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber (2-3 times normal atmospheric pressure).
Benefits of HBOT:
- ⢠Reduces CO half-life to 23 minutes (vs 90 minutes with standard O2)
- ⢠More effective at preventing delayed neurological sequelae
- ⢠Critical for pregnant women (protects fetus)
- ⢠May prevent long-term brain damage
Drawbacks:
- ⢠Not all hospitals have hyperbaric chambers
- ⢠Transport time can delay treatment
- ⢠Expensive ($2,000-5,000 per session)
- ⢠Not proven to be better than standard O2 for mild cases
If HBOT is recommended: Get it if possible. Studies show it reduces DNS risk by 46% compared to standard oxygen. Most insurance covers HBOT for CO poisoning if medically indicated.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CO poisoning is 100% preventable. Here's how to protect your family:
â Install CO Detectors
- ⢠One on every level of your home
- ⢠Within 10 feet of every bedroom
- ⢠Near furnace and attached garage
- ⢠Test monthly, replace batteries annually
- ⢠Replace entire detector every 7-10 years
â Annual Inspections
- ⢠Furnace inspection every fall before heating season
- ⢠Chimney cleaning/inspection annually (wood/gas fireplaces)
- ⢠Water heater vent inspection
- ⢠Gas range/oven inspection if problems noticed
- ⢠Generator placed 20+ feet from house when running
â Never Do This
- ⢠Idle cars in garage (even with door open)
- ⢠Use gas range/oven to heat your home
- ⢠Run portable generators indoors or in garage
- ⢠Use charcoal grills indoors
- ⢠Ignore CO detector alarms ("it's probably false")
- ⢠Go to bed with headache after furnace runs all day
â ď¸ Warning Signs
- ⢠Yellow or orange flame on gas appliances (should be blue)
- ⢠Soot buildup around furnace or fireplace
- ⢠Excess moisture on windows near appliances
- ⢠Rust on furnace venting
- ⢠Pilot light keeps going out
- ⢠Smell of exhaust or burning near appliances
Best CO Detectors for Your Home
A good CO detector is your first line of defense against poisoning. Here are the best options:
Kidde 10-Year Sealed Battery CO Detector
Best value - never change batteries
~$40
Buy on Amazon- â 10-year sealed lithium battery (no maintenance)
- â Digital display shows exact CO levels in ppm
- â Peak level memory
- â 85 dB alarm
First Alert SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Best for smartphone alerts
~$120
Buy on Amazon- â Smartphone alerts (even when away from home)
- â Voice warnings ("Carbon monoxide in basement")
- â Wireless interconnection (all units alarm together)
- â Detects both smoke and CO
Common Questions About CO Poisoning
Can you smell carbon monoxide?
No. Carbon monoxide is completely odorless, colorless, and tasteless. You cannot detect it with your senses. If you smell exhaust or burning, that's not COâthat's other combustion byproducts. CO could be present without any smell. Never rely on smell to detect CO.
How long does it take to get CO poisoning?
Depends on CO concentration. At 400 ppm, symptoms start in 1-2 hours and death occurs in 3 hours. At 1,600 ppm, you have 20 minutes before losing consciousness. At 3,200 ppm, death occurs in 5-10 minutes. Low-level exposure (70 ppm) causes symptoms after several hours.
Will opening windows help if there's CO in the house?
Yes, opening windows and doors provides ventilation and dilutes CO concentration. However, if the CO source (malfunctioning furnace, running car) is still active, ventilation may not be enough. Evacuate first, ventilate second. Don't stay in the house trying to "air it out"âget outside.
Can you recover from carbon monoxide poisoning?
Most people recover fully from mild CO poisoning if treated within hours. Moderate poisoning can cause lasting symptoms (fatigue, difficulty concentrating) for weeks. Severe poisoning may cause permanent brain damage, memory loss, or personality changes. 3-40% develop delayed neurological symptoms 2-40 days after exposure.
Don't Become a Statistic
400+ Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning every year. 100,000+ end up in the ER. Don't wait until you have symptoms. Install CO detectors today.
Recommended: One detector per floor + one within 10 feet of each bedroom