Checklist for the Prevention of Carbon Monoxide
(CO) Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as CO, which is its chemical symbol. Unlike
many gases, CO is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and nonirritating. Red blood
cells absorb CO over 200 times more readily than oxygen. As levels of CO in the
air rise, this gas replaces oxygen in the bloodstream. As a result, body tissues
are damaged and may die of a lack of oxygen.
Knowing the major causes of carbon monoxide poisoning and using measures to
eliminate them will prevent many needless tragedies.
The following questions relating to various areas in your environment will
help you in dealing properly with the unseen, deadly hazard of carbon monoxide.
The questions have been divided into sections that may directly apply to your
particular situation. You can compare your answers with the correct explanation
provided at the end of the list of questions.
QUESTIONS
The Home, Cabin, and Camper
Most questions will apply equally to homeowners, campers, and to those who
rent. Renters, however, should refer to the management any questions regarding
maintenance. Draw a circle around your answer.
Yes No 1. Have you had the fireplace draft and the drafts of
other fuel-burning appliances checked by an expert within the past year?
Yes No 2. Have all gas appliances been checked annually for
proper operation?
Yes No 3. Are all Combustion appliances properly vented?
Yes No 4. Has your chimney vent been checked for defects
within the past year?
Yes No 5. Have you patched any vent pipe with tape, gum, or
other substances?
Yes No 6. Are all horizontal vent pipes to fuel appliances
perfectly level?
Yes No 7. Do you use your gas range or oven for heating?
Yes No 8. Does the cooling unit of your gas refrigerator
give off an odor?
Yes No 9. Have you ever used a charcoal grill, such as a
barbecue grill for cooking within your home, cabin or camper other than in a
vented fireplace?
Yes No 10. Have you ever brought burning charcoal into your
home, cabin or camper for heating purposes?
Yes No 11. Do you consider portable flameless chemical
heaters (catalytic) safe for use in your cabin, camper or home?
Yes No 12. Have you ever used a portable gas camp stove in
your home, cabin or camper for heating purposes?
The Auto
Yes No 13. Have you had a reliable mechanic check the exhaust system of your car
within the past year?
Yes No 14. Do you ever run your auto engine in the garage
while the garage door is shut?
Yes No 15. Do you leave the door closed between your
attached garage and your house when you run your car engine?
Yes No 16. Do you keep your windows slightly open while
driving in heavy traffic, although you have an air conditioner?
Yes No 17. While driving your station wagon, do you lower
the tailgate to get a greater flow of air in the car?
Other
Yes No 18. When you are selecting gas equipment, do you buy
only those items that carry the seal of a national testing agency, such as the
American Gas Association or the Underwriters' Laboratory?
Yes No 19. Have you ever converted, or are you about to
convert, a fuel burner from one fuel to another without having it done by an
expert?
Yes No 20. As an overnight guest at motels or hotels that
have heating units located in the room, do you read operating instructions or
ask how such appliances operate?
CORRECT ANSWERS
The Home, Cabin, and Camper
Yes 1. A yearly checkup of all fuel-burning venting systems
in the home is desirable.
Yes 2. A yearly checkup of all combustion appliances is
suggested. In many areas, upon request, the gas company will provide this
service.
Yes 3. All gas appliances must have adequate ventilation so
that CO will not accumulate.
Yes 4. Chimney vents often become blocked by debris causing
a buildup of CO They should be checked annually.
No 5. Often a makeshift patch can lead to an accumulation of
CO, and therefore should be avoided.
No 6. In-room vent pipes should be on a slight incline as
they go toward the exterior. This will reduce leaking of toxic gases in case the
joints or pipes are improperly fitted.
No 7. Using a gas range for heating can result in the
accumulation of CO.
No 8. An unusual odor from a gas refrigerator often is the
result of defects within the cooling unit. Odorless CO also may be given off.
No 9. The use of barbecue grills indoors will quickly result
in dangerous levels of CO.
No 10. Burning charcoal-whether black, red, gray or
white-gives off CO.
No 11. Although catalytic heaters produce heat without
flame, combustion is occurring that can cause the production of CO.
No 12. Using a gas camp stove for heating the home, cabin or
camper call result in the accumulation of CO.
The Auto
Yes 13. Small leaks in the exhaust system of a car can lead
to an accumulation of CO in the interior.
No 14. CO can rapidly build up while your auto engine is
operated in a closed garage. Never run your car in a garage unless the outside
door is open to provide ventilation.
Yes 15. CO can easily escape from a garage through a
connecting door that opens into the house, although the garage door is open.
Doors connecting a garage and house should be kept closed when the auto is
running.
Yes 16. Even with an air conditioner, CO can be drawn into a
car while it is being driven slowly in heavy traffic. Therefore, windows should
be slightly opened.
No 17. If the tailgate is open, be sure to open vents or
windows to increase the flow of air in the car. If the tailgate window is open
and the other windows or the vents are closed, CO from the exhaust will be drawn
into the car.
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