Carbon Monoxide Poses Heightened Risk as Temperatures Drop

Carbon monoxide poisoning accounts for more than 100,000 emergency room visits, over 14,000 hospitalizations, and more than 400 deaths in the U.S. each year. Cold weather increases the risk, as the invisible, odorless gas is produced by common heating sources like fireplaces, furnaces, and portable generators.

Dr. Jason Milk, an emergency medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic, says early symptoms can be easy to dismiss. "A lot of the symptoms of the early start to carbon monoxide exposure can mimic some of the cold and flu-like symptoms," he said. Those include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion — making it difficult to identify the cause without proper testing.

One telltale sign: if everyone in the household feels sick at the same time, carbon monoxide may be the common factor. Emergency departments can measure CO levels in the blood, and treatment involves removing the person from the source and administering oxygen.

The CDC recommends several precautions to reduce exposure risk. Never use a portable generator inside your home or garage, even with doors and windows open — place them outside, at least 20 feet from any windows, doors, or vents. Don't heat your home with a gas oven, and avoid running a vehicle inside an attached garage, even with the door up. For detached garages, open the door to allow fresh air circulation when a car is running.

Installing carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home provides an early warning when levels become dangerous. The gas offers no visual or scent cues, so a working detector is often the only alert before symptoms set in.