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Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a gas that forms whenever fuel is burned. You cannot see, taste or smell carbon monoxide, but it can be deadly when you breathe it in.1 Known as the "invisible killer," CO is dangerous because it blocks your body from taking in the oxygen it needs. CO poisoning can happen suddenly or over a long period of time. CO can cause serious illness or death in just minutes.1 1,090 Michiganders visited the hospital emergency room for CO poisoning in 2019 (MiTracking Data Portal).
Carbon monoxide poisoning emergency department visits and hospitalizations data are available on the MiTracking data portal.
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Risk Factors
Anyone can be at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. But those most at-risk are1:
- Babies and infants
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
- People with chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory illness
For more information, visit Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics.
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Symptoms
Breathing in CO can cause mild symptoms that may seem like the flu or intoxication. The symptoms depend on the amount of CO a person comes in contact with, the length of time of contact, and the general health and age of the person.2
Common symptoms may include1:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Tightness in the chest
- Confusion
If you think you have CO poisoning:
- Go outside and get fresh air at once! DO NOT ignore symptoms. You could DIE within minutes if you do nothing.
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.
For more information, visit Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics.
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Exposure
All CO poisonings are preventable! Most CO poisonings take place at home and are caused by sources that are not properly cared for or vented, such as1:
- Furnaces
- Water heaters
- Vehicles
- Forklifts
- Generators
- Lawnmowers
- Gas cooking ranges
The most common causes of the Michigan deaths were faulty furnaces and water heaters. All CO poisonings are preventable!
For more information, visit MDHHS - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
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CO Detectors
Information on CO detectors3:
- Install carbon monoxide detectors on all floors and near all sleeping areas in your home.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance.
- Make sure the detector meets Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards.
- Replace carbon monoxide detector batteries every spring and fall.
- Leave the house if the alarm sounds on your CO detector. Go to a hospital emergency room or call 911 if anyone is feeling sick. If no one is sick, call the emergency number for your heating service or 911. Stay out of the home until your heating service or fire department says it is okay to go in.
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Data - MiTracking
CO MiTracking Indicators
CO data are for unintentional carbon monoxide poisonings and include these indicators:
- Emergency department visits
- Hospitalizations
MiTracking Data Can Tell Us
- The number of hospitalizations or emergency department visits for CO poisoning by year.
- The cause of CO poisonings: fire, non-fire, unknown.
- If the rate of hospitalizations or emergency department visits is going up or down over time.
MiTracking Data Cannot Tell Us
- The total amount of CO poisoning in a population.
Find Out More
The emergency department visits dataset was processed and created using data from the Michigan Outpatient Database (MODB) and obtained with permission from the Michigan Health and Hospitalization Association (MHA) Service Corporation. The hospitalizations dataset was created from the Michigan Inpatient Database (MIDB). MIDB is a database of all hospitalizations at acute care hospitals in Michigan.
For more data information, visit:
- About These Data (found in query search results)
- Metadata (Technical information about the content, quality, and context of the data)
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Learn More
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
National Environmental Public Health Tracking (CDC Tracking)
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Fact Sheets (downloadable):
- Boating and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Camping and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- CO and Tractors
- How to be Safe During a Power Outage
- Ice Fishing and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Portable Generators and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Work
Michigan Act 230 of 1972 - CO Detector Installation
Michigan Climate and Health Adaptation Program (MICHAP)
MiTracking - Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (fact sheet)
Reports
- Annual Report on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Michigan, 2009
- Annual Report on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Michigan, 2010
- Annual Report on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Michigan, 2011
- Annual Report on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Michigan, 2012
- Annual Report on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Michigan, 2013
Videos
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA)
Carbon Monoxide (CO) (download)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
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Citations
- CDC. Carbon monoxide poisoning basics. https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/co/default.htm. Accessed June 4, 2024.
- MDHHS. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/FACTS_ABOUT_CARBON_MONOXIDE_206601_7.pdf. Accessed June 4, 2024.
- EPA. What about carbon monoxide detectors? https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-about-carbon-monoxide-detectors. Accessed June 4, 2024.