The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO)

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Each year throughout the country, unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 400 lives and sends another 20,000 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

Understanding the Risk

What is carbon monoxide?


Where does carbon monoxide come from?


Who is at risk?



  1. Evacuate all occupants immediately.
  2. Determine if any occupants are ill and their symptoms.
  3. Call 911.
  4. Do not re-enter the home without the approval of the fire department officers.

Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning


Gather all family members together in a predetermined meeting place and check to be sure everyone is present.

Call 9-1-1. Leave the building immediately. Do not re-enter until responders say it is safe to do so.

Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. There will be no smoke or haze to betray its presence. Exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal.

Be sure to review the instructions included with your carbon monoxide detector. These instructions will familiarize you with proper mounting and operation of your detector. Did you know that there are specific sequences of beeps which denote varying conditions of your detector? Be sure to review your manual for these varying tones.