Tom Britt has more. Cold weather means it's time again to crank up furnaces, fireplaces or space heaters. It also means reports of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced by incomplete combustion and is produced by every fire.
It is odorless, tasteless and undetectable without special equipment. Dr. Richard Moon of Duke University Medical Center says carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly. It causes damage to the brain, the heart. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting in mild cases, and in severe cases it can actually cause loss of consciousness and death. Moon says most medical emergencies from carbon monoxide poisoning involve homeowners who have not had their furnaces checked for leaks.