Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Comprehensive Guide to Awareness, Detection, and Emergency Response

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced by burning fuel. It can be produced by boilers, cookers, heaters, fires, and barbecues. If this equipment is poorly maintained, faulty, operated in a small, poorly ventilated space or if flues and chimneys become blocked then dangerous levels of CO can build up.

Why is Carbon Monoxide Dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is highly poisonous and potentially lethal. If too much carbon monoxide is in the air, it will be inhaled and then absorbed by the body, where it builds up in the blood. Once in the bloodstream, it interferes with the blood supply of oxygen, leading to severe tissue damage or even death.

Every year in the UK, carbon monoxide causes 4,000 cases of poisoning and around 50 deaths.

Anyone can be seriously affected by CO poisoning, but the dangers are even higher for people who have circulation or breathing problems, babies, children, older adults or pregnant women.

Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The signs and symptoms depend on the extent of exposure to this toxic gas.

Acute carbon monoxide exposure can cause:

• • Dizziness

• • Nausea / vomiting / stomach pains

• • Chest pain or generalised pain

• • Breathlessness

• • Collapse

• • Seizures

• • Coma

• • Death

Chronic carbon monoxide exposure can cause:

• • Long term tiredness or fatigue

• • Personality or mood changes

• • Muscle spasms

• • Tinnitus

• • Sleep disturbance

• • Confusion or dementia like symptoms

• • Balance problems

• • Stomach pains

All of these symptoms are non-specific and often mistaken for flu or migraine.

Pets are also at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning. If they are affected, then they might show the following signs:

• • Sudden personality or behaviour changes eg. more aggressive, anxious or irritable

• • Wary of entering the house after being outside

• • Vomiting

• • Coordination problems

• • Drowsiness

• • Difficulty breathing

• • Bright cherry red lips, ears and gums

• • Less able to exercise

How can I protect someone from carbon monoxide poisoning?

It is impossible to see or smell CO – it is known as the silent killer because you can neither see it, hear it, nor smell it. Carbon monoxide detectors can detect dangerous levels of the gas.

You should install a carbon monoxide detector in every room with an appliance that could leak gas from burning fuel, for example;

• • Fires

• • Cookers

• • Boilers

• • Heaters

You should get your chimney swept and your gas appliances serviced annually. You should also test the detector regularly. Remember, CO is deadly, and CO detectors save lives.

What should I do if I suspect a carbon monoxide leak? 

• • Open all doors and windows

• • Move outside into fresh air

• • If someone is showing any signs of poisoning or has collapsed, get them outside, call 999 and ask for an ambulance, tell all medics that you suspect CO poisoning

• • Call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 ( UK)

You can recognise indications of a carbon monoxide leak by observing your equipment for the following:

• • Lazy yellow or orange gas cooker flames.

• • Dark staining around appliances.

• • Increased condensation visible on the windows.

• • Pilot lights that frequently blow out.

Interested in enhancing your understanding of carbon monoxide safety? Learn More About Carbon Monoxide Safety.