What You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide This Winter

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is something to be mindful of all year round, but especially so during the colder months. Colder temperatures mean your furnace will be running longer, and this can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

How to recognize CO poisoning
Headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion are the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Always remember, if you or someone you are with may have CO poisoning or are experiencing any of the symptoms described above, seek fresh air and emergency medical care immediately.

Also, keep in mind that that carbon monoxide poisoning can even kill people as they sleep before they experience symptoms, which is why it is so important to have working CO detectors as recommended throughout your buildings.

CO detector
Purchase a few battery-powered CO detectors for your church. If you already have some, check or change the batteries every six months.

Furnace maintenance
Have a qualified technician service your furnace and HVAC systems every year. Regular maintenance allows you to discover any issues before they become worse.

Proper ventilation
Proper ventilation is very important to help avoid CO poisoning. Make sure your vents and flues are free of debris to allow free movement of air. Small, enclosed rooms can also become a hazard if a CO leak is present.

Gas-powered appliances
Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a building, even if the doors or windows are open.

CO poisoning can be very serious, even causing death in some cases, so follow these and other recommendations to help keep your church safe.