These winter storms that we are experiencing in our region can increase the risk in getting carbon monoxide poisoning.
That’s because, during a power outage, generators and gasoline-powered tools can produce that deadly gas inside your home.
Since the gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless it can accumulate before you know it.
“If you look at the data, more poisons occur when the power goes out because people are bringing in grills, running their stoves, and have a faulty fireplace. But people need to be careful at this time if the power goes out on how they are heating their homes to make sure they don’t get carbon monoxide poisoning,” Christopher Holstege, medical director of the University of Virginia Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center, said.
For safer heating, make sure to put generators at least 20 feet from your home, never put it inside a garage or basement, or on a porch, a fireplace is another option.
Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector at home and if you suspect anything call your local fire department.
