The media has not exaggerated the importance of being aware of the risks of this dangerous gas. In the bloodstream, CO prevents oxygen from combining with hemoglobin and restricts the oxygen delivery to vital organs. CO poisoning can cause a number of symptoms, depending on the length and severity of exposure.
Medium exposure can produce headaches, drowsiness, confusion, and fast heart rate.
Extreme exposure can produce unconsciousness, convulsions, heart and lung fatigue, brain damage, and eventually death. The best defenses against CO poisoning are safe use of vehicles, particularly in attached garages, and proper installation, use and maintenance of household gas cooking and heating equipment. Appliances should be checked annually by trained technicians to ensure they are working properly. Installation of CO detectors in homes is also a move to consider. These detectors can provide early warning of accumulating CO and can alert residents to a possible dangerous situation before symptoms are noticed.