Heating costs and carbon monoxide

Filed in archive News on November 22, 2005

Another downside to high heating costs - carbon monoxide poisoning:

Every year, hundreds of people are sickened or killed by carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas emitted by gas stoves, water heaters and other sources. Winter is traditionally the peak season for problems, as more people use heating devices to stay warm.

But this winter could be a record-setter because of unusually high energy costs, experts say. People hoping to stay warm cheaply --- by using plastic sheeting to block window drafts, for example --- may instead fall sick from CO poisoning, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

To avoid CO poisoning, people should install a carbon monoxide detector in their homes and make sure fuel-burning heating units are well-ventilated and working properly.