Headlines

With the return of cold weather, beware of carbon monoxide poisoning.The mortality rate from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in France declined steadily between 1979 and the early 2000s, but has since plateaued at around 0.15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to an analysis of death certificates conducted by Inserm’s CépiDc. Since 2005, CO poisoning has affected approximately 1,000 households each year, or nearly 3,000 people.In our Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, 52 cases of poisoning were reported during the 2014–2015 heating season (between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015), affecting 147 people. Two deaths were reported in Franche-Comté. Combustion heating appliances (wood, coal, fuel oil, natural gas, butane, propane, gasoline, or kerosene) and hot water production appliances (gas water heaters) that are poorly maintained or improperly installed are the main sources of CO poisoning, particularly if they are connected to poorly maintained or improperly installed exhaust ducts and located in inadequately ventilated spaces.To prevent these accidents, follow these recommendations:1) As required by regulations:- Before winter, have combustion-based heating and hot water appliances serviced by a qualified professional, - Have flue exhaust ducts swept by a qualified professional,2) But also:- Never use appliances not intended for heating (camping stoves, ovens, fire pits, barbecues, cookers, etc.),- Under no circumstances use a generator in an enclosed space (house, basement, garage, etc.): it must be placed outside the building,- Never use a combustion-based space heater (kerosene stove, etc.) for extended periods: after a few hours, the appliance may stop working properly and release CO, - Ventilate your home daily and never block ventilation grilles, even in cold weather. This Epidemiological Bulletin includes a page detailing the monitoring of carbon monoxide poisoning in our region. It will be updated approximately every 4 weeks until the end of the heating season.