BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- This past week, 5 people were killed in our neighboring state of Ohio by what police say was carbon monoxide gas. Carbon Monoxide is a gas that comes rom burning carbon items like natural gas, wood, paper, coal, or cloth.
Common places it comes from are the fireplace, your car’s exhaust, an oven, or furnace. Without proper ventilation, the build-up can be dangerous. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have a CO detector placed in hallways on every floor of your home.
If you don’t have a CO detector, reach out to your local fire department and see if they have any. Also, make sure to check that your fireplace and other fuel-powered appliances are working properly to prevent gas leaks.
Symptoms of CO poisoning can be like the flu or common cold such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, mild confusion, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you may have CO poisoning, please seek medical care. The Oakland fire chief explains why it’s important to stay vigilant in having a detector.
“Well, you can’t smell it. You can’t see it. And the effects of it come on. Slowly, typically. And by the time you’re at a dangerous level, you’re unaware of the situation you’re in,” said Ed Thompson, the Oakland Fire Department fire chief. “Carbon monoxide detectors will give you early warning, when these levels are elevated and are at a dangerous level prior to them becoming overwhelming.”
