Headlines - How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Winter?

Every winter, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims about 100 lives in France. Invisible, odorless, and non-irritating, carbon monoxide is a gas that is very difficult to detect. However, simple precautions can help reduce accidents.

As required by regulations:

- Before winter, have combustion-based heating and hot water systems serviced by a qualified professional;

- Have your flue pipes cleaned by a qualified professional.

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.

At the community level:

Organizers of gatherings (such as cultural or religious events, family reunions, etc.) must be particularly vigilant. Cases of poisoning linked to the use of gas-fired radiant heaters are common and affect several hundred people in France each year.

The brochure "Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Affects Everyone, So Do Preventive Measures" outlines the dangers of this gas, the appliances and systems that can emit CO, and the steps to follow to prevent poisoning. It can be downloaded from the website www.inpes.sante.fr (under the "Everyday Accidents" section).

A poster outlines the proper preventive measures to take both in homes and in public facilities (particularly schools and sports facilities).

The website www.prevention-maison.fr provides information and advice on different rooms in the home. It is dedicated to preventing household accidents and the risks of indoor air pollution, particularly carbon monoxide emissions.