Carbon Monoxide Exposure

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Carbon monoxide exposure happens when you breathe in air that contains carbon monoxide (CO) gas. You cannot see, taste or smell CO and you may not know you are breathing it in. Too much CO exposure can cause CO poisoning. Most CO poisoning happens by accident, but for some it happens on purpose such as with a suicide attempt. In your lungs, the oxygen you breathe in is carried by red blood cells (RBCs) to your body. With CO poisoning, the CO takes up the places on your RBCs where the oxygen should be carried. This results in less oxygen being delivered to your tissues and organs, which can injure them. CO poisoning may cause serious damage to your blood vessels, brain, kidneys, and heart.
  
  
• CO is formed when any fuel is burned, such as gasoline, kerosene, propane, coal, wood, or charcoal. Older adults, pregnant women, and people with certain jobs or medical conditions have increased risk for CO poisoning. With CO exposure, you may throw up, have a headache, chest pain, and trouble breathing or thinking clearly. You may need blood tests, a breath analyzer test, or neurological exams to detect CO poisoning. You may be treated with oxygen, intravenous (IV) therapy, and medicine to help your heart and to prevent convulsions (seizures). CO poisoning also causes damage to your blood vessels, making them leak and swell. You may get serious damage to your brain, kidneys, and heart, which can be life-threatening. Receiving treatment within six hours of exposure may help remove CO from your body faster and reduce injuries.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

• Anticonvulsant medicine: This medicine is given to control seizures. Take this medicine exactly as directed.
  
  

Follow-up visit information:

You may need to have repeat imaging and blood tests done. Your caregiver may also ask you to take some tests to check how your brain is working. These help check for any long-term effects of CO poisoning on your brain and other organs. Ask your caregiver when to come back and how often you need blood and imaging tests done. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Home:
  
  
  • Do have your fireplace flue cleaned on a regular basis.
    
    
  • Do have your gas, coal or oil furnace, gas hot water heater, and gas stove and oven checked for problems. Make sure exhaust pipes for these items are not blocked.
    
    
  • Do install a CO detector near your sleeping area. This should be placed five feet above the floor and away from fireplaces or any gas-burning equipment.
    
    
  • Do look for signs that you are being exposed to CO in your home. Look for fallen soot from a fireplace or streak of soot around gas-burning equipment. Check for moisture on the windows and walls of furnace rooms or rusting of flue pipes.
    
    
  • Do not use your gas kitchen stove or oven to heat your home.
    
    
  • Do not use barbecue grills or heaters that burn fuel, such as propane, inside your home.
  
  
• Motor vehicles:
  
  
  • Do make sure your vehicle's exhaust pipe is not blocked.
    
    
  • Do not operate vehicles in closed areas.
    
    
  • Do not operate vehicles that have problems with their exhaust systems.
  
  
• Recreation:
  
  
  • Do stay away from the exhaust fumes coming from vehicles such as motor boats and jet skis. Avoid swimming behind these vehicles.
    
    
  • Do not use built-in propane heaters in trailers or pop-up tents that are not vented.
    
    
  • Do not use portable propane or charcoal cooking devices in enclosed areas, such as cabins, tents or trailers.
  
  
• Work:
  
  
  • Do not operate motorized equipment in places that do not have good air flow. If this cannot be avoided, make sure to vent the exhaust fumes to the outside.
    
    
  • Do not stand near the exhaust of motorized equipment except in areas with good air flow.

Do not smoke:

Smoking causes lung cancer and other long-term lung diseases. It increases your risk of many cancer types. Smoking also increases your risk of blood vessel disease, heart attack, and vision disorders. Not smoking may help prevent such symptoms as headaches and dizziness for yourself and those around you. Smokers have shorter lifespans than nonsmokers.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You feel dizzy.
  
  
• You have a headache or start to vomit (throw up).
  
  
• Your eyesight becomes blurred.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have chest pain or strong, irregular or fast heartbeat.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing or need to breathe faster than normal.
  
  
• You faint or have a convulsion.
  
  
• You feel weak, have trouble moving or have very bad muscle pain.
  
  
• Your urine becomes dark or reddish.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Carbon Monoxide Exposure (Aftercare Instructions)