Public Safety Message and Information
10/04/2009
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Information from:
Air Pollution and
Respiratory Health Branch
National Center for Environmental Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Protect Your Family from a Silent Killer
Take steps now to protect your family from the unseen danger of carbon monoxide. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your house, and plan to check its battery every time you check your smoke detector batteries. |
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Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. If it builds up in your home it can cause illness or even death—more than 500 Americans are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning every year. Any heater that burns fuel, such as your furnace, gas water heater, or a portable butane or gas heater, can leak carbon monoxide and should be inspected every year. In addition to having a working carbon monoxide detector in your house, you should never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented properly, never heat your house with a gas oven, and never run a generator in an enclosed space (like your basement) or outside a window where the exhaust could blow indoors, even if the power goes out. |
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When you’re driving, don’t warm your car up in a closed garage. If your garage is attached to your house, close the door to the house even if you open the garage door while you warm up the car. And when it snows, be sure to clear any snow out of your car’s tailpipe—if the pipe is blocked exhaust can back up inside your car. |
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Carbon monoxide is often referred to as CO, which is its chemical symbol. Unlike many gases, CO has no odor, color, or taste, and it doesn't irritate your skin.
Red blood cells pick up CO quicker than they pick up oxygen. If there is a lot of CO in the air, your body may replace oxygen in your blood with CO. This blocks oxygen from getting into your body, which can damage tissues in your body and can kill you. Knowing where CO is found and how to avoid it can protect you from serious injury or death.
Public Service Announcements
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Radio PSA for Carbon Monoxide - long version
(:30; 2.5 Mb WAV)
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Radio PSA for Carbon Monoxide - short version
(:15; 1.3 Mb WAV)
Transcripts of the above
- Radio PSA for Carbon Monoxide -
long version (:30)
Sound Effect (SFX): Siren and Dispatcher's voice
Dispatcher: Unit 121 Responding to possible carbon monoxide poisoning...
SFX: Sounds fade out
Announcer: Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that kills more than 500 Americans every year. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window. If it is cold, stay with friends or family or in a shelter. To learn more, call the CDC at 1-888-246-2675.
- Radio PSA for Carbon Monoxide -
short version (:15)
Announcer: Never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage. They produce carbon monoxide which can kill you. If it is cold, stay with friends or family or in a shelter. To learn more, call the CDC at 1-888-246-2675.
For additional information on Carbon Monoxide from the CDC, click on the following link;
http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=search&queryText=Carbon+Monoxide
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A
Tel: (404) 639-3311 / Public Inquiries: (404) 639-3534 / (800) 311-3435
Department of Health
and Human Services -
Other Public Safety Messages and Information for the Winter months:
Safety - Winter Driving
Safety - Chimneys and Flues
Safety - Carbon Monoxide
Safety - Winter Grilling
Safety - Influenza
Safety - Winter Storms
