The Manitowoc County Health Department reminds residents about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide.
The department is recognizing November as National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month to highlight information and help increase awareness.
Health Department Director Korina Aghmar says as the weather gets colder, many start to turn to alternative heating sources, which increases the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
CO is a poisonous gas created when fuels like gas, kerosene, propane, or wood are burned and cannot be seen, smelled, or heard.
When it’s inhaled, it replaces oxygen in the blood, causing the lack of oxygen to cause nausea, headaches, weakness, and chest pain.
Community Health Strategist Natasha Kahn explained on WOMT’s Be My Guest program, “More than 150 people in the US every year die from accidental non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning.”
To help prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Kahn says it’s important to have a CO detector on each level of a home.
“It also needs to be a UIL listed one,” she said. “And sometimes there are carbon monoxide and smoke alarm detectors that are combined. But you really need to make sure that you have both.”
Kahn says that Carbon Monoxide poisoning cases have been steadily going up around Manitowoc County, and education is important to prevent it from continuing.
The health department also recommends testing alarms every month. If the alarms are battery-operated, replacing them at least once a year is a good idea.
You can find more information about the poisonous gas on the Center for Disease Control’s website.
