INDIANA – Emergency officials are urging the public to stay vigilant against carbon monoxide (CO)—a deadly, invisible gas that can build up quickly when fuel-burning equipment is used improperly or ventilation is blocked. Because the toxic gas is completely colorless and odorless, functional carbon monoxide alarms serve as a critical, life-saving layer of defense.
To keep households and workplaces safe, emergency services recommend keeping three fundamental precautions top of mind:
- Get outside immediately if an alarm sounds: Never ignore an activation. Relocate everyone to fresh air right away and call emergency services from a safe location outdoors.
- Never run engines indoors: Always keep generators, grills, lawnmowers, and fuel-burning engines outdoors, far away from doors, windows, and air vents to prevent fumes from seeping inside.
- Maintain your alarms: Test carbon monoxide detectors regularly, and replace batteries or whole units according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can easily mimic common illnesses. Initial symptoms often include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, chest pain, or confusion. Emergency personnel stress that you should never ignore these warning signs if a potential fuel source or fuel-burning appliance is nearby.
