If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or a whole room of people get headaches and nausea at once, get outside first, then make the call
- Top value
- Evidence B
- Buys life
- Free
- Takes minutes
- No willpower
In a real emergency, call 911 first, then read this.
In plain words
If the alarm sounds, or a whole room of people have headaches, nausea and dizziness at the same time, first take everyone outdoors, then make the call. Don't stay inside looking for the cause, and don't go back to turn off a valve. The symptoms look like a cold, and "getting better once you go outside" is the strongest hint. In 2018, China reported 11,523 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning, the most in winter, and most of them at home.
- Cost
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Free.
- What you get
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China's disease control death surveillance system reported 11,523 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2018. The most were in January (2,845), February (2,321) and December (2,010). In these three winter months, 66% to 73% died at home. These are the numbers reported into the system, not an estimate for the whole national population. In the United States, more than 400 people a year die of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires. More than 100,000 go to the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized
- Notes
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The symptoms look like a cold, and also like having drunk too much. A whole room of people feeling unwell together and getting better once they go outside is the strongest hint. Don't stay inside looking for the cause, and don't go back to turn off a valve: get out first, then call. For how to install the alarm, see §1.3.
- Evidence grade
- B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
- Sources
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- You J, Liu J, Zhou M (2020). Number of Deaths due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by Month and by Place of Death — China, 2018. China CDC Weekly 2(2):32：「In 2018, there were 11,523 deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning reported in China」. https://doi.org/10.46234/ccdcw2020.008
- 美国疾病控制与预防中心. 一氧化碳中毒：「More than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires」「More than 100,000 visit an emergency department」「More than 14,000 are hospitalized」，常见症状「headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion」. https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html
- 美国消费品安全委员会. 一氧化碳信息中心：「If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911」. https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center
Mentioned in
- Don't count on being “saved” as a safety net: after swallowing pesticide or breathing in gas, the emergency room can save a life, but not the lungs or the brain
- If someone swallows cleaner, pesticide or medicine, don't make them vomit; take the bottle and go for care at once. If it splashes into the eyes or on the skin, rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes
Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 13, tip 19. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer