Reducing Your Risk The key to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning is good preventive maintenance. All fuel-burning appliances, furnaces and fireplaces should be checked annually. However, even with good maintenance, problems may occur. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that every home have at least one carbon monoxide detector for each floor of the home. If you can afford only one detector, the ideal location is near the bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms are designed to warn you before the carbon monoxide concentration reaches dangerous levels. Both electric and batteryoperated carbon monoxide detectors are available for use in the home. A battery-operated detector is good for use while camping or if you need a portable carbon monoxide detector while traveling. Do not use carbon monoxide detectors that warn potential victims solely through a color change. These sensors do not sound alarms, so they can’t warn people who are sleeping.
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, do not treat it as a false alarm. False alarms are rare. If your alarm sounds:
Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows and turn off stoves, ovens, heaters and similar appliances and leave the house.
If someone is ill, contact emergency medical services immediately.
Whenever possible, identify and eliminate the source of carbon monoxide.
Contact the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222 immediately from a neighbor’s home or using a phone that is away from the carbon monoxide contamination.
The poison center will advise you if there is a need for medical care and direct you to contact a certified heating and ventilation contractor, the gas company or fuel provider or fire department for additional support if it is needed
IF THE PERSON HAS COLLAPSED OR STOPPED BREATHING, CALL 911.
CARBON MONOXIDE “The Silent Killer”
CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CHECKLIST
Have heating systems inspected annually. Service gas, oil or kerosene space heaters annually. Allow for good ventilation when in use. Do not use ovens and grills as heat sources. Do not idle automobiles in a garage. Obtain battery back-up carbon monoxide alarms for your home and place near sleeping areas.
TEXAS POISON CENTER NETWORK The Texas Poison Center Network provides a 24hour helpline for any caller in need of medical assistance due to poisoning. Assistance is also available for questions concerning the possible toxicity of a product or medication. Phones are answered by pharmacists and nurses who have access to information on more than a million toxic substances and their antidotes. If necessary, the staff may refer callers to the nearest hospital and assist in the person’s initial and follow-up care. The Texas Poison Center Network includes six regional poison centers in Texas and the Commission on State Emergency Communications (State 9-1-1). The Poison Centers are located in the following cities: Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso, Galveston, San Antonio and Temple. Free education programs and materials are also available for your group, hospital, organization, facility, school, or other.
TEXAS POISON CENTER NETWORK www.poisoncontrol.org