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Invisible killer: How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when temperatures drop

When desperate, some people are tempted to turn to dangerous ways to stay warm.

Gas stoves, ovens, propane tanks/ generators and cars are never acceptable methods of heat.

Those appliances can turn deadly when leaking carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that starts forming in the air. If not properly ventilated, it can cause a lot of symptoms, including death.

Those symptoms include:

Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, a headache, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath.

One of the key indicators you’re experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning is if multiple people in the home are starting to feel the same way. That’s a good indication to open doors, and windows and get outside.

According to AAA, it’s never a good idea to run your car in the garage, not even to let the engine warm up.

“It used to be that you want to warm up your vehicle... before driving it, but that was vehicles of days gone by. I mean modern vehicles, you do not need to warm it up,” said Doug Shupe with AAA. “You never want to warm up a vehicle inside an enclosed space like a garage because of the threats of carbon monoxide poisoning. So, no, you do not need to warm up that vehicle.”


About the Author
Haley Hernandez headshot

KPRC 2 Health Reporter, mom, tourist

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