Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Overview

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can make you seriously ill if you breathe it in. Carbon monoxide can be made by fires and appliances that burn gas, wood, oil or coal.

Signs and Symptoms

Carbon monoxide gas is colourless and does not smell, so you cannot tell if it is around you.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• headache
• dizziness
• feeling sick or being sick
• feeling weak
• confusion
• chest and muscle pain
• shortness of breath

The symptoms may come and go. They may get worse when you spend time in an affected room or building and get better when you leave or go outside.

Causes

Common household appliances used for heating and cooking can produce carbon monoxide if they are not installed properly, are faulty, or are poorly maintained.

Appliances that can cause carbon monoxide include:

• gas boilers
• gas cookers and clay ovens
• gas or paraffin heaters
• wood, gas and coal fires
• portable generators

Using barbeques or camping stoves inside, and turning on vehicle or lawn mower engines in your garage, can also cause a build-up of carbon monoxide.

Immediate First Aid Steps

If you think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning:

• stop using appliances you think might be making carbon monoxide (such as a boiler, cooker or heater) if you can
• open any windows and doors to let fresh air in
• go outside
• get medical advice as soon as possible – do not go back into the affected building until you have got advice

When To Seek Medical Help

Call an ambulance or seek immediate medical help (e.g. Emergency Department) if:

• you are finding it hard to breathe
• you suddenly become confused
• someone loses consciousness

Do not drive yourself to the Emergency Department. Ask someone to drive you or call an ambulance instead.

Get medical help if:

• you think you have carbon monoxide poisoning

Treatment

You may need to be checked in hospital if you have carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if:

• you have symptoms of severe carbon monoxide poisoning (for example, you have difficulty breathing or you lost consciousness)
• you are pregnant
• you are a child or older person
• you have anaemia or a condition affecting your lungs, heart or blood vessels

While you are in hospital, you will usually have tests to check the level of carbon monoxide in your blood. If the level is high, you may be given oxygen through a mask.

Prevention

There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:

Do:

• get a carbon monoxide alarm for each room of your home that contains appliances that burn gas, oil, coal or wood
• get heating and cooking appliances properly installed and keep them well maintained
• make sure your boiler is serviced regularly by a qualified engineer
• keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained

Don’t:

• do not use a barbeque or camping stove indoors, or inside a tent
• do not leave vehicles or other engines on inside garages