Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen to any of us. Take the right steps to reduce the risk.

cp_co_121222.pdf

Published on 12 December 2022

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As temperatures drop, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increases due to the use of heating devices. Each year, approximately 1,300 accidental cases of CO poisoning involving nearly 3,000 people are reported to health authorities. Invisible, odorless, and non-irritating, carbon monoxide is undetectable. However, simple precautions can help reduce the risks. Particular attention should be paid to the proper use of portable fuel-burning space heaters and avoiding the use of makeshift heating methods, which are particularly risky.

To minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, follow these safety guidelines

Appliances that use fuels (natural gas, wood, coal, fuel oil, butane, propane, gasoline, or kerosene, etc.) to produce heat or light are all capable of producing carbon monoxide (CO) if operating conditions are not ideal.

Before winter, have your heating and hot water systems, as well as your chimney flues (mechanical sweeping), systematically inspected and maintained by a qualified professional at your primary and secondary residences, if applicable;
Ventilate your home for at least 10 minutes a day, even if it’s cold;
Keep your ventilation systems in good working order and never block air inlets or outlets;
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using combustion appliances: use only the recommended fuel, never run space heaters continuously; always place generators outside buildings; never use appliances not intended for heating—such as stoves, braziers, or barbecues—for heating purposes.

In communal settings, extra caution is required: carbon monoxide poisoning from gas heaters is common.

Act quickly: ventilate the area and call emergency services

Symptoms—headaches, fatigue, nausea—appear more or less quickly and can affect several people within the same household. Severe poisoning can lead to coma and death, sometimes within minutes. It is therefore essential to act very quickly.

If you suspect poisoning:

Ventilate the area immediately;
Turn off combustion appliances if possible;
Evacuate the premises;
And call emergency services by dialing 15, 18, or 112 (and 114 for people with hearing impairments).

Treatment for those affected by carbon monoxide poisoning must begin quickly, as soon as the first symptoms appear, and may require hospitalization
.

A brochure to inform you about protective measures

The brochure “The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide: What You Need to Know” explains the dangers of this gas, the appliances and systems that can emit CO, and provides helpful tips to prevent poisoning.

For more information:

Carbon monoxide

thematic dossier

13 May 2020

Colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, carbon monoxide (CO) is an imperceptible toxic gas. It is the cause of many cases of poisoning during the winter months.