Be wary of carbon monoxide danger during cold snap

In Nebraska, we're number one -- but it's not necessarily something to be proud of.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Nebraska has the highest reliable mortality rate from carbon monoxide. In 2010, the Nebraska Regional Poison Center received 292 calls concerning carbon monoxide, but that may be misleading, since such poisoning is often under-reported.

It's something to be concerned about, especially in bone-chilling weather like we are currently experiencing.

According to the poison center, in two recent weeks, Maryland had two deaths, Florida five, Texas one, New York 45 people sent to the emergency room, Connecticut 40 children to the ER, Colorado one death and three unconscious, Arizona nine hospitalized, Massachusetts one death and 18 hospitalized, all from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The poison center urges all of us to understand the dangers, symptoms and how to prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide.

Symptoms include sleepiness, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, shortness of breath and convulsions.

If you suspect carbon monoxide, the first thing to do is get the victim to fresh air, then seek medical attention immediately.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels burn incompletely. It has no color, taste or smell. The major causes of poisoning are:

Using heating equipment that is in poor repair

Lack of ventilation in a car

Using a charcoal grill indoors

Using unvented space heaters.

When fresh air is available and fuel is burning properly, there is little danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, operating an internal combustion engine or a poorly adjusted fuel-burning appliance in a closed area without proper ventilation can become fatal.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center offers the following suggestions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

Inspect all fuel-burning equipment yearly.

Vent fuel-burning heaters to the outside.

Do not use a gas range or an oven for heating a room.

Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi inside.

Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.

Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.

Have the vehicle muffler and tailpipes checked regularly.

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning or if you have any questions, contact the Nebraska Regional Poison Center toll-free at (800) 222-1222 from Nebraska and Wyoming.

Keeping warm is a life-or-death matter when temperatures are as low as we have been experiencing. Let's make sure we keep warm safely.