Essential Winter Safety: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure at Home

While spring is just around the corner, earlier this month, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, meaning that winter may just drag on for a few weeks longer this year. If you are living in a colder region of the country, this can mean that you:

• May need to continue to actively run your heaters and other appliances for that much longer
• Should continue to be vigilant about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, as running heating appliances and devices in the winter can significantly increase these risks.

Taking a closer look at the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter, in this blog series, we will highlight why there are greater risks and what people can do to stay safe and minimize these risks for themselves and their families. If, however, you or a loved one has been diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning, it’s crucial that you:

• Follow through with all prescribed treatment options to prevent potentially life-threatening complications
• Contact Colorado Springs Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorney Kenneth Shakeshaft to find out more about your options for financial recovery.

Why Do the Risks of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Increase in the Winter?

Did you know that the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning increase in the winter? Here’s why – and what you can do to protect yourself.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, each year in the U.S., more than 430 people die as a result of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning that is NOT caused by fires. Instead, the causes of such cases of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning typically stem from CO (carbon monoxide) fumes:

• Being produced by indoor energy and/or heating sources, such as portable generators, stoves and/or gas ranges
• Accumulating in enclosed spaces with poor, little and/or no ventilation.

So, during the wintertime in colder regions, it’s far more likely for both of these conditions to present and problematic. In fact, when the above are factors and any of the following conditions are also an issue, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning can increase substantially:

• Homes lack functioning CO detectors.
• The heating-related appliances in a home are not properly maintained and/or installed.
• The heating-related appliances in a home have defective components and/or are defectively designed, allowing slow leaks of CO gas.

For some important tips regarding how you can reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in winter, don’t miss the second part of this blog series that will be published soon.

How to Reduce the Risks of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Winter

Although there can be some significant risks of carbon monoxide poisoning during the wintertime in Colorado, the good news is that CO poisoning is entirely preventable when people are informed and take the proper actions.

In particular, here’s what can be done to minimize the risks of wintertime carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Make sure that your home has sufficient, working carbon monoxide poisoning detectors installed, particularly in regions close to bedrooms.
• Do NOT use gas ranges or ovens as heating sources for your home. If your power goes out and the conditions get too cold, seek shelter with a family member, friend or community resource.
• Never leave running vehicles in enclosed garages or even partially enclosed spaces.
• Never run gas-powered equipment (like, for instance, generators or pressure washers) in enclosed spaces (even if windows are open).
• Make sure the vents, as well as the HVAC system, in your home are properly maintained.
• Check the flues and chimneys in your home to ensure they are free from possible blockages, such as nests or other debris.
• If you need to use generators for power, be sure these devices are operated outdoors.
• Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning so that you are ready to take action and get help if you or a loved one starts to display such symptoms.

Early intervention is key to preventing severe, possibly deadly complications of carbon monoxide poisoning, so be sure to share these prevention tips with your family and other loved ones.

Colorado Springs Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Lawyer at Shakeshaft Law Firm

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning? If so, Colorado Springs Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Attorney, Kenneth Shakeshaft is ready to advocate your rights, help you recover financially and ultimately help you put your life back together.

To talk about your case and your rights, as well as your best options for moving forward, schedule a free initial consultation with us by calling (719) 635-5886 or (800) 383-5886, or email us here. You can also email us using the contact form on this page. We don’t get paid unless or until you get paid, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contacting us today.

From our offices in Colorado Springs, we serve people throughout Colorado, including people in the Denver metro area, El Paso County, the Pike's Peak Region, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Grand Junction.