The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released information on Mar. 9 about the dangers of carbon monoxide, often referred to as the invisible killer due to its odorless and colorless nature. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, or methane burn incompletely. Common household sources include heating and cooking equipment that use these fuels, as well as vehicles or generators running in attached garages.
This topic is important because exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to serious health risks or death. The NFPA reports that CO poisoning can be confused with flu symptoms or food poisoning and may cause shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, or even death within minutes at high levels.
According to the NFPA’s data for 2023, there were 82,245 incidents involving carbon monoxide that required a local fire department response. This figure does not include over 79,000 alarm malfunctions and more than 79,000 alarm activations where no CO was found present. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that between 2005 and 2018 there were approximately 101,847 emergency department visits annually due to unintentional non–fire-related CO poisoning.
The NFPA recommends installing CO alarms in central locations outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Alarms should be interconnected so that if one sounds they all do. Regular testing of alarms is advised at least once a month with replacement according to manufacturer instructions. If an alarm sounds or a trouble signal indicates low batteries, residents are urged to move outdoors immediately for fresh air and call for help from a safe location.
Additional safety measures include never running vehicles or fueled engines indoors—even with garage doors open—and ensuring exhaust pipes are clear during snowstorms. Generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows and doors. Annual professional inspections of fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys are also recommended before cold weather sets in.
The risk from carbon monoxide varies depending on individual health conditions; infants, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung diseases are especially vulnerable even at lower concentrations compared to healthy adults.
