Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless odorless gas produced by combustion of hydrocarbons. Common sources include automobile, truck, and bus engines; fireplaces; charcoal grills; and generators.

Incidence: The CDC reports > 15,000 non-fire related CO exposure/poisoning cases each year resulting in 480 deaths. December and January are the peak months for these events.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs050120.htm


CO poisoning in the home is very common after power failures - especially in cold climates - when generators are used indoors. Even a home generator in a garage can kill, when combustion fumes enter through a parially open door. Space heaters may also release CO into a room or tent.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea, lethargy, confusion, shortness of breath, and coma.

Treatment includes removal from the site/source of the exposure, oxygen, and hyperbaric therapy.

• CDC - http://www.cdc.gov/co/ & http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/carbonmonoxide/casedef.asp
• Detection of CO by Breathalyzer - http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijeicm/vol5n2/co.xml
• CO Poisoning detection in the ER - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16798147&dopt=Abstract
• Mass Poisoning by CO - http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/17/1/38
• EPA - http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html