By Dr. Linda Yau, Foxhall Internists
Contributing Writer, 海角社区app.com
WASHINGTON — I recently heard a very scary story from my friend: Her father had called her at work saying he was not feeling well, and she heard聽an alarm blaring in the background. She made out the words 鈥渃arbon monoxide鈥� from聽the alarm system.聽and immediately told her father to open the windows, then called 911.
She rushed to聽her father鈥檚 home聽and聽found emergency services there tending to her father, who had weakness and headache. It turns out her father had accidentally left the car idling in the garage after driving it home. The car exhaust built up a high level of carbon monoxide, which seeped from the garage to the rest of the house.聽A neighbor had opened all the windows.聽My friend was very thankful for the alarm she had installed earlier.
A carbon monoxide detector can be a life-saving device: Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless.聽 It cannot be detected any other way.
Carbon monoxide is a compound with one carbon atom and one oxygen atom (鈥渕ono鈥� meaning 鈥渙ne鈥�).聽 Hemoglobin聽—聽the substance in our red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout our bloodstreams — prefers to bind to carbon monoxide, rather than oxygen, whenever it is available. That can result in a聽lack of oxygen to the brain and the heart, which can cause death.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is most common聽in the winter, when heating systems are on and people with keyless ignition systems start cars in enclosed spaces. It can also occur if a fuel-burning device, such as a generator, is used in the home. Electrical heaters and appliances do not give off carbon monoxide.
To prevent exposure, be sure to always turn off cars in garages. Never use a generator or other fuel-burning appliance in the home unless it is vented properly: Generators should be placed at least 25 feet away from the house. Gas heating systems and gas burning appliances should be checked and maintained yearly.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be in every home聽—聽ideally on every floor of the house, but especially on the floor where the bedrooms are, so they can聽wake people if necessary. Don’t put聽them near the furnace: That’s usually in the聽basement, where no one can hear the alarm.
The most common symptoms of poisoning by carbon monoxide are headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness and shortness of breath. These are the symptoms of聽many illnesses, so unless the patient or family tells their聽doctor about possible carbon monoxide exposure, people can be misdiagnosed with, say,聽flu or other viruses. If there is any suspicion at all of carbon monoxide poisoning, tell the health care providers immediately.
If someone is unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning and not breathing, call 911 and start CPR immediately.
The聽recent record snowfalls in the D.C. area may have created聽mountains of snow which can block聽furnace vents and build up carbon monoxide. Washer and dryer vents also need to be cleared of snow.
As the cold weather kicks in this winter, be sure to properly maintain heating systems, place carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your home, and never use a fuel burning device (such as a car or a generator) in an enclosed area. The 500 deaths each year from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States should not happen.
Dr. Linda Yau is a physician with Foxhall Internists in D.C., who writes a blog for the . The website was started by a group of health professionals from the Washington area 鈥� all of them women 鈥� who get together on a regular basis for exercise, food, inspiration and conversation.
The “Lady Docs” represent medical specialties ranging from pediatrics to dentistry to gynecology. Some are in private practice, some teach and a few have branched out of medicine to other fields. All are determined to not just “talk the talk” about a healthy lifestyle to their patients, but to “walk the walk” by setting a good example.
