Carbon Monoxide Prevention

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year 15,000 people will seek emergency medical treatment for unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning and another 500 will die. Fortunately though, carbon monoxide poisoning and deaths are preventable. Below are some general carbon monoxide safety tips:

1. Never run a vehicle inside a garage attached to your house. This is true even if the garage door is open.
2. Ensure you stove or fireplace is properly vented before burning anything in it.
3. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Be sure the detector is either battery-operated or has a battery-back up. Be sure to replace the batteries when the time changes each year in the spring and fall.
4. Do not try to heat your house with a gas oven, even for a short period of time.
5. Once a year, have your gas, oil or coal-burning appliances (heat system, water heater, etc) serviced by a qualified provider.
6. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, and you are experienced light-headedness, a headache, dizziness or nausea, immediately seek fresh air and then obtain prompt medical attention.
7. Do not use catalytic heaters (flameless chemical heaters) inside. While these types of heaters do not have a flame, because they use gas, they can still produce carbon monoxide.
8. Only purchase gas equipment bearing the seal of a national testing agency such as Underwriters' Laboratories.
9. Have a qualified technician check and, if necessary, clean your chimney each year. Blocked and partially blocked chimneys can allow carbon monoxide to accumulate inside the home.
10. Do not use a charcoal or barbecue grill inside.
11. Do not use a generator inside your home or garage.
12. Once a year, have a qualified mechanic inspect the exhaust system of your car.
13. See our separate pages of carbon monoxide safety tips for boaters and carbon monoxide safety tips for users of recreational vehicles.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning, contact one of our award-winning attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation. We handle all carbon monoxide poisoning and death cases on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you and your family. From anywhere in Tennessee, call us at 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866.812.8787 or contact us online. We have recovered more than $100 million dollars for our clients and we want to help you too.

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