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Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Killer
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas. It's often called the "Invisible Killer" because you can't see it, smell it, or taste it-but it can be fatal in minutes. Each year, more than 150 people in the U.S. die from accidental CO poisoning not related to fires. Most of these cases are linked to everyday fuel-burning equipment such as generators, furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and fireplaces-especially when they're poorly vented, improperly used, or malfunctioning.
Because carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and undetectable without a CO alarm, people may not realize they are being exposed until it's too late. Early symptoms of CO poisoning often resemble the flu-but without the fever.
Mild to Moderate CO Exposure Symptoms:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Severe or High-Level Exposure Symptoms:
- Mental confusion
- Vomiting
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Ultimately death
The severity of symptoms depends on both the CO concentration and the length of exposure.
In slowly developing CO leaks-such as from a faulty furnace-symptoms can be mistaken for a cold or the flu, leading to delayed action and tragic outcomes. In high-level exposures-like using a generator indoors-symptoms can appear suddenly and escalate quickly. A person may become disoriented or lose muscle control before realizing what's happening, often with fatal consequences if not rescued in time.
