Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The following list illustrates some danger signs of CO presence.

1.Soot and dirt build-up seeping out of chimney or other exhaust vents.

2.A mostly yellow (rather than clear blue) burner flame or pilot flame in gas appliances.

3.A draft of air coming from an appliance, chimney, or vents.

If you have flu-like symptoms or suspect CO poisoning, seek medical assistance immediately!

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

CO poisoning has many symptoms. Some symptoms are very similar to the flu, the effects of intoxication, or drug usage. In many CO cases, people feel ill and stay home to rest. This only compounds the CO poisoning because they stay in the home where CO is present.

As CO levels rise, the symptoms become more extreme. At low levels people will suffer headaches and mild nausea. At higher levels unconsciousness, heart failure, and even death can occur.

The following symptoms are related to CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING and should be dis- cussed with ALL members of the household:

Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomit- ing, fatigue (often described as flu-like symp- toms).

Medium Exposure: Severe throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.

Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness, convul- sions, cardio-respiratory failure, death.

Many cases of reported carbon monoxide poi- soning indicate that while victims are aware they are not well, they become so disoriented they are unable to save themselves by either exiting the building or calling for assistance. Also, young children, the elderly, and household pets may be the first affected by CO poisoning.

The important factor with any CO poisoning, however, is time. At high levels, CO can cause death in just minutes. At lower levels, it could take from hours to days of constant CO expo- sure to have the same life-threatening effect.

The chart below illustrates the symptoms of CO poisoning by concentration of CO and its effect over time.

Slight headache within 2-3 hours.

Frontal headache within 1-2 hours.

Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 minutes.

Insensible within 2 hours.

Headache, dizziness, and nausea within 20 minutes.

Death within 2 hours.

Headache, dizziness, and nausea within 5-10 minutes. Death within 30 minutes.

Headache, dizziness, 1-2 minutes.

Death in less than 15 minutes.

Death in less than 3 minutes.

0100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

Concentration of CO in air (ppm)