Captain Bob Hammond of Rancho Bernardo’s Fire Station 33 advises us that we must be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning: ‘This is a tricky time of year. It’s a time when windows are closed and the heat is on. Make sure you have your furnace checked. It’s not too soon to do it in October.’

Carbon monoxide can be deadly. You can’t see or smell it, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances are not working properly, or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.

Yellow flames are a sure sign of incomplete combustion. Pilot lights and burner flames should be clear blue, sometimes with a small amount of orange around the edges of the flame.

Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more people die from CO produced by idling cars. Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: at moderate levels, you can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. If these levels persist for a long time, you can even die; low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

What to do? Get fresh air immediately - Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances, and leave the house.

Go to an emergency room - Tell the doctor you suspect CO poisoning, which can be diagnosed by a blood test done soon after exposure. Be prepared to answer the following questions: Do your symptoms occur only in the house? Do they disappear or decrease when you leave home and reappear when you return? Similar symptoms from other family members?

Prevention is the answer:

1. Have your fuel-burning appliances inspected at the beginning of the heating season. 2. Choose appliances that vent to the outside if possible. 3. Read and carefully follow all written instructions that come with the device. 4. Do not idle the car in the garage even if the garage door is open. 5. Do not use a gas oven to heat your home ever. 6. Don’t ever use a charcoal grill indoors - even in the fireplace.

7. Don’t sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater. 8. Don’t use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, trimmers, blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces. 9. Don’t ever ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness.

What about CO detectors? They are widely available in stores, and you may want to consider buying one as a back-up only. They are not a replacement for proper use and maintenance.