1. Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

2. What is Carbon Monoxide? CO Deadly gas Cant see, taste, feel or smell

3. Whats the problem with CO? Kills 5,000 people in US each year Survivors of CO poisoning can suffer from brain damage, loss of sight or hearing, or heart problems

4. Where Does CO Come From? Gas & oil furnaces, boilers, water heaters Wood burning fireplaces and stoves Gas appliances (ovens, stoves, dryers) Gas and kerosene space heaters Gas and charcoal grills

5. Where Does CO Come From? Cars, trucks, campers, and other vehicles Gas and liquid propane fueled equipment Tobacco smoke, house fires Blocked chimneys and flu es

6. What are the signs of CO poisoning? Headache Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Confusion Tiredness Weakness Sleepiness Tightness in chest Trouble breathing All of these are flu- like symptoms

7. How Can I Protect My Family? Never use Charcoal grills or run engines inside home, garage, or basement Never warm up vehicle in garage Have furnace, chimney and gas appliances checked

8. How Can I Protect My Family? Keep chimney and wood burning stove in good working order Use kerosene, gas heaters and vent-free fireplaces carefully -- follow instructions and open window

9. How Can I Protect My Family? Use carbon monoxide alarms in Never use kitchen stove or oven for heat

10. How Can I Protect My Family? Use kitchen exhaust fan when using oven Make certain gas appliances burn correctly Dont use a smoking fireplace

11. Carbon Monoxide Alarms At least one for every household Sounds an alarm when CO becomes too high Battery operated

12. If CO Alarm Sounds: Get outside right away Call 911 from phone outside your home Have home checked by qualified heating/appliance technician Dont go back into the home until all problems are fixed

13. Visit the Healthy Homes Partnership site: www.HealthyHomesPartnership.net For more information on healthy home environments Special thanks to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension for the original creation of these slides: Dr. M. Cassandra Wiggins Dr. Sarah D. Kirby Dr. Wilma S. Hammett