Monitoring and Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning surveillance system, coordinated by the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, was established throughout mainland France in 2005. Its objective is to collect data on the circumstances surrounding CO poisonings and their severity to inform public health action: adapting regulations and prevention measures and evaluating the impact of these policies. It also enables, as part of health surveillance, action to be taken on the causes of reported poisonings to prevent them from leading to new cases.

The surveillance system applies to all suspected or confirmed cases of CO poisoning occurring accidentally or intentionally (suicide attempts) in the home, in a public access building (ERP), in the workplace, or in connection with an internal combustion engine (including vehicles) outside the home. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the poisoning, a medical investigation is conducted, supplemented by an environmental investigation for accidental domestic CO poisonings, those occurring in public access buildings, and sometimes in the workplace.

According to the national bulletin of November 14, 2011, 148 cases of CO poisoning have been reported in France since September 1, 2011, including 34 between October 31 and November 13, 2011, compared to 86 in 2010. This difference is likely due to the mild weather conditions in 2011. Among these 34 cases of CO poisoning reported in 14 regions, one case occurred in Franche-Comté (reported in the epidemiological update of November 10, 2011). [...]