They cut off the heater, opened the windows, and their headaches, nausea and chest pains stopped soon thereafter. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental deaths in America, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association . Some 1,500 people die annually from accidental exposure to the flammable, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Another 10,000 require medical attention. The numbers probably are higher because the symptoms resemble so many other common ailments, such as the flu.
Carbon monoxide is a by-product when fuel burns.
If a fuel-burning device is installed, operated or vented incorrectly, the carbon monoxide it gives off can build up in the air. As you breathe, the gas enters your lungs where it passes into your bloodstream in place of the oxygen you need. If the concentration is high enough, you develop symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Because you can t see it or smell it, you won t know carbon monoxide is building up. So it s important to prevent the build up in the first place by using and venting fuel-burning appliances properly.