His car stuck in the snow during a frigid day, Jan. 16, a Clarkston-area teenager found himself feeling lightheaded.
His friend, recently hearing about a case of carbon monoxide poisoning from his mother, thought he sounded strange when talking to him on the phone.
Driving out to check on him, he found his friend passed on the hood after an attempt to push the car free.
The boy’s mother, who asked not to be identified, now wants everyone to know carbon monoxide can be dangerous, even on the open road.
‘If the exhaust pipe gets plugged up, the exhaust will find another way out, and it could seep into the car,? said Greg Olrich, Independence Township Fire Marshall.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble a common cold, hangover, food poisoning, depression or flu without body ache or fever, according to the National Fire Safety Council.
They include dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, burning eyes, persistent throbbing headaches, tightness across the forehead, pale skin, nausea and vomiting, confusion, disorientation, loss of muscle control, fainting, unconsciousness, sleepiness, never feeling rested, rapid heartbeat or pulse, fluttering or throbbing of the heart, tightening of the chest, shortness of breath, chest pain when exercising, and intoxicated appearance.
Symptoms that go away or decrease when away from home indicates carbon monoxide, and call for medical treatment, Olrich said.
Olrich recommends CO detector, which sound an alarm when high levels of CO are in the air. Without testing instruments, CO is virtually impossible to detect, he said.
Because the gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, victims may become disoriented before realizing any danger, unable to call for help or to get outside.
‘Never start your car in the garage,? Olrich said.
Other tips while outside the home are never use fuel-burning heaters or lanterns while sleeping in tents, campers, or RVs; do not store propane tanks indoors; start gas, diesel, or propane- powered equipment outside; paint strippers and solvents only outdoors or in adequately ventilated areas; never use a barbecue grill in the garage or house, in a trailer, van or camper.
While inside the home, avoid extensive use of kerosene heaters, always venting to outside; inspect and service heating and cooling systems before each season; check water heater for improper burner adjustment and low supply of hot water; keep fireplace flue open for adequate ventilation and until embers are completely burned out; check pilot light regularly and call for service if not right; never install or operate gas-burning appliances, furnaces, or water heaters in unvented enclosures; examine chimney and vents for blockages, cracks, leaks; improper connections, rust, water streaking, stains, debris and soot; loose, damaged discolored bricks or masonry, hot draft or none at all; never use a gas range or oven for space heating.
‘Watch for stuffy, smelly air; exhaust fume smell or unfamiliar or burning odor; moisture on walls and windows, lint by dryer’s exterior vent, or soot on appliances; a furnace that runs constantly but heats inadequately, or loose or missing furnace panels; appliances that shut off, activating safety devices.
If experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning, call 911 and seek medical attention. If the alarm sounds and there are no symptoms, call a qualified appliance technician. Call the local gas company immediately if a CO leak is suspected. Professionals can identify and eliminate the CO problem.