Carbon monoxide, the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S., is a serious safety concern every heating season. During the fall and winter months, Colorado Springs Utilities responds to over 300 percent more calls suspecting carbon monoxide than any other time of year. Help educate your audience on this critical topic. Their lives could depend on it. As the weather becomes cooler and families begin to turn on their heat, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning becomes more real due to improper operation, ventilation, cleaning and inspection of fireplaces and fuel burning appliances (example: furnaces). Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so recognizing symptoms of poisoning could be the difference between life and death. According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, symptoms begin with a minor headache and can progress into shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting and vertigo. In greater concentrations, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to seizures, shock and death. That’s why every home should be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors on each level of the home that sound an alarm when concentrations reach 35 parts per million. If an alarm sounds, or if symptoms exist, call 911 for emergency response. Firefighters will treat persons that show an elevated level of carbon monoxide in their blood or signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure with high flow oxygen, and will transport them to the hospital. At higher levels of concentration, victims will be transported to a medical facility for possible treatment in a Hyperbaric Chamber. For more information, contact the following agencies: Use of carbon monoxide alarms and emergency response in the event of exposure
Colorado Springs Fire Department, Lt. Julie Stone or Cathy Prudhomme, 385-7298 Prevention tips and home investigations
Colorado Springs Utilities, Corporate Communications, 668-3848 Diagnosis and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning
Memorial Health System, Chris Valentine, 365-5235
Media Contact: 719-668-3848 | 
