{"id":7013,"date":"2024-02-14T06:17:41","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T04:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/how-do-you-prevent-co-poisoning\/"},"modified":"2024-02-14T06:17:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T04:17:41","slug":"how-do-you-prevent-co-poisoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/how-do-you-prevent-co-poisoning\/","title":{"rendered":"How do you prevent CO poisoning?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter how you spin it: carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly. Read the important symptoms, signs, causes and advice for preventing CO poisoning here. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is CO poisoning?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CO2 poisoning occurs when there is an excessive concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in the air. This interferes with breathing and causes serious health problems. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CO is enormously dangerous.  <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is because carbon monoxide is invisible, odorless and odorless. It can build up to life-threatening concentrations in rooms within your home or apartment. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Causes of CO poisoning<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CO poisoning occurs during incomplete combustion of fossil fuels due to insufficient supply of oxygen. Fuels include wood, coal, (heating) oil, gas and petroleum. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most frequent cause is a combustion appliance in the home. Examples include: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuel generators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chimneys and flues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fireplaces, pellet and wood stoves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gas furnaces and stoves using kerosene or petroleum as fuel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barbecue grills using charcoal, pellets or propane as fuel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gas-fired heating systems such as boilers, stoves, flow-through heaters, central heating systems, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second most frequent cause is fire.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms of CO poisoning<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms (incipient):<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vomiting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concentration disorders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea and dizziness.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms (advanced):<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling weak yourself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confusion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathlessness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unconsciousness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiac arrest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coma.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alarm signals:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your symptoms diminish when you leave the house.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your symptoms will lessen if you ventilate the rooms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You see soot deposits around gas geysers on the wall or ceiling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You always experience symptoms in the same spaces and\/or around the same times.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You see yellow flames instead of blue flames in your appliance with flame (e.g., gas geyser).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You see abnormally high humidity and condensation in certain areas of the home.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to do if CO poisoning (suspected) occurs?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has a victim fallen? Call 911 immediately. Never simply enter a room where a victim is lying. Otherwise, you may be locking yourself in.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Step 1: Ventilate the room<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open all windows, doors, gates, fences&#8230; (if you can do this without risking your own safety)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Step 2: Call 911<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State that it is suspected to be CO poisoning. Also state whether the victim is unconscious or not. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Step 3: Eliminate the cause<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn off the suspected source (if you can do this without risking your own safety)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid explosion. Do not use switches, lighters or matches. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Step 4: Evacuate everyone outside<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resuscitate the victim if he\/she stops breathing. Place the victim in lateral safety position. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find all about the lateral safety position in the article from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rodekruis.nl\/ehbo\/ehbo-tips\/stabiele-zijligging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Cross: stable lateral position<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3182\" src=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Banner Apartment - How to prevent CO poisoning - 112\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-112.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preventing CO poisoning<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Maintain your heating appliance<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have your heating unit installed by a licensed professional.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have your heating unit and drains checked and serviced annually by a licensed professional.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you suspect something? Have your appliance preventively checked by a licensed professional. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the color of your flame: blue is good, yellow indicates poor combustion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read all the tips by room (e.g. Bathroom, kitchen, storage room etc) on the web page: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antigifcentrum.be\/koolstofmonoxide\/co-vergiftiging-voorkomen#:~:text=Bezoek%20doorheen%20het%20huis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PREVENT CO poisoning from the Poison Control Center.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> .<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Ventilate your house or apartment<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide constant air supply through a mechanical ventilation system, vents, a window tilted or ajar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide adequate ventilation in your home. Especially during or after using a heating or hot water appliance. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Alert yourself and your roommates<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Install CO detectors with the product standard NBN EN 50291 and a seal of approval (e.g. BOSEC, NF, T\u00dcV, Q-label, VDS):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to the ceiling in any room with a combustion appliance and\/or flue.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in each living space at a height of 1m50.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the bedroom at floor level.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Test these CO detectors regularly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outline an evacuation plan and test it with all your housemates. That way you will know if the plan is feasible. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Notice:  <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Install your CO detector correctly and place enough of them. Learn that in this   <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4gpl4MYU5TY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">YouTube video: Where to place CO detector?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Respond quickly<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be attentive to symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If suspected: evacuate, ventilate and call 911.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Figures of CO poisoning<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest figures recorded are those for the year 2019 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antigifcentrum.be\/sites\/default\/files\/imce\/Laat%20je%20niet%20%28be%29vangen%20door%20CO%21_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antivenom Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, s.d.):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, there were 830 victims and 29 deaths.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">87% of accidents happen in private homes. Most accidents (27%) happen in the living room. The second most accidents (16%) happen in the bathroom.  <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">79% of accidents are caused by individual heat or hot water production appliances. The top 3 culprits are: bathtub heaters, central gas heaters and coal stoves. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the beginning of the heating season (the month of September), the number of victims increases. The number peaks around the months of December-January and then decreases again until April. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-3181\" src=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Banner Apartment - How to prevent CO poisoning - professional\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Banner-Appartement-Hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging-vakman.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antigifcentrum.be\/koolstofmonoxide\/co-vergiftiging-voorkomen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antivenom Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vlaanderen.be\/let-op-voor-co-vergiftiging\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flanders<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use: <\/b><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiasteny, L. (2024, Feb. 14). How do you prevent CO poisoning?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  Apartment.com. Consulted on (date XX\/XX\/202X), from https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/hoe-voorkom-je-CO-vergiftiging\/ <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No matter how you spin it: carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly. Read the important symptoms, signs, causes and advice for preventing CO poisoning here. What is CO poisoning? CO2 poisoning occurs when there is an excessive concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in the air. This interferes with breathing and causes serious health problems. CO is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1120,1127],"tags":[1179,1368,1121,2475,1369,2476,1129,1471],"class_list":["post-7013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buy","category-rent","tag-advice","tag-apartment","tag-buy","tag-co-poisoning","tag-house","tag-preventing-co-poisoning","tag-rent","tag-safety"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7013"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7013\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}