Carbon Monoxide: Why It’s Called The ‘Silent Killer’

Carbon Monoxide: Why It’s Called The ‘Silent Killer’

The season of bitter cold temperatures has just begun on Long Island. If you haven’t kicked up your heat yet, chances are you will soon. Now that most residents are cooped up indoors for the season, it’s important to prepare for one of the most preventable accidents that kills hundreds of Americans every year: carbon monoxide poisoning.  

Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the “silent killer” for its colorless, odorless appearance and ability to seep undetected into homes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), CO is responsible for over 400 deaths, 20,000 hospital visits, and 4,000 hospitalizations every year. Shockingly, this number is conceived to be even higher due to the fact that carbon monoxide poisoning is often misdiagnosed and documented as other illnesses such as the flu. 

CO fatalities and illnesses are preventable when you know what to look for. All Long Islanders should be aware of the specific carbon monoxide risks in their home, how to prevent leaks, and what to do if you suspect CO is present.  

Why Winter Raises Risks for CO Poisoning  

Fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning soar during the winter months with an increase in residents using gas appliances and heaters. Windows and doors also tend to remain sealed when the weather is cold, allowing the gas to build up to deadly proportions without a proper means of escape. 

Any appliance or tool that runs on gasoline, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood, charcoal, or diesel fuel has the potential to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas. CO is found in the fumes that result from burning these fuels and it becomes deadly when large amounts are trapped in enclosed spaces. Some of the most common appliances causing harm to people in the winter include:  

  • Cars and trucks; 
  • Small engines (high-pressure washers, floor buggers, welders, pumps, compressors); 
  • Stoves; 
  • Lanterns;  
  • Fireplaces; 
  • Gas ranges; 
  • Generators;  
  • Water Heaters; 
  • Portable Space Heaters; 
  • Snow and leaf blowers; and  
  • Furnaces.  

Most CO leaks are the result of failed or improperly used appliances and heating systems that allow abnormal release and build-up. Open fires using any of the above heating sources can also lead to CO leaks when the fuel does not burn fully.  

Signs of CO Poisoning 

Because you cannot see, smell, or even taste CO in the air, being aware of the symptoms associated with carbon monoxide poisoning may be your first clue that there is a problem. Everyone reacts differently when exposed to CO, but some of the most common signs and symptoms listed by the U.S. Fire Administration include:  

  • Headache; 
  • Fatigue; 
  • Shortness of breath; 
  • Nausea; and 
  • Dizziness. 

If your home contains a high level of CO or you have been exposed to the gas for a prolonged period of time, symptoms will progressively become more severe, including: 

  • Mental confusion; 
  • Vomiting; 
  • Loss of muscular coordination; 
  • Loss of consciousness; and  
  • Death. 

Unfortunately, symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can often be misdiagnosed as other illnesses such as the flu. If you or a loved one experiences a sudden onset of these symptoms (while in the home), and have not come in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the flu, remove yourselves from the residence until the CO levels are checked.  

How To Prevent CO Poisoning  

December is not the coldest month of the year in New York. In fact, January tends to be the time when heat systems are kicked on full blast, resulting in the death of at least two people a day from carbon monoxide poisoning.  

Now is the time to protect your home from CO leaks. The New York Department of Health provides the following recommendations to keep your family safe this winter:  

  • Make sure you have working CO detectors installed to provide warnings that elevated CO levels are present. These devices should be placed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions and tested at least two times every year.  
  • Schedule annual maintenance for furnaces and heating appliances in the home. If you have already begun using these appliances, make sure to schedule maintenance as soon as possible.  
  • Never operate cooking appliances such as stoves for warmth.  
  • Never use gas or coal grills indoors (especially for warming purposes) or in a semi-enclosed space such as a garage, shed or porch.  
  • Never use portable generators in the home or basement. Keep these appliances at least 15 feet away from your home at all times.  
  • Never use gas-powered tools indoors or in a semi-enclosed space such as a crawlspace, garage, shed, or porch.  
  • If you are idling your car, keep it outside of the garage to prevent CO from getting into the home. 
  • Check your vehicle’s exhaust pipe for blockage from ice and snow to be sure the CO gas has a method to escape.  

Use these safety steps as a guide to keep your family warm and safe as the cold winter season continues. For more information on how to protect your home for CO, check out these resources below:  

  • New York Department of Health- Carbon Monoxide…The Silent Killer 
  • C.D.C.- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning FAQ  
  • U.S. Fire Administration- Carbon monoxide safety outreach materials. 

Long Island Accident Attorneys  

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another, our team at the law firm of Siler & Ingber is here to help. With a 98% success rate, we have the experience and the know-how to help our clients achieve a favorable outcome. 

Our personal injury attorneys at Siler & Ingber have over 20 years of experience serving clients across New York City and Long Island. We protect your rights by maximizing recovery and securing the financial support our clients need to succeed on their road to recovery.  

Contact us today at 1-877-529-4343 , or schedule an appointment online anytime. We never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. 

Share this post

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Siler & Ingber Mineola MegaStar Contest begins on March 20, 2023 at 12:00 am ET and
ends on May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, a MegaStar must be a legal U.S. resident at least 16 years of age as of date of
Nomination. A Mineola MegaStar is defined as a person who lives or works in Mineola and is admired or idealized for their courage, dedication, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. By participating, Entrants agree to be
bound by the official rules. Sponsors reserve the right to verify and determine eligibility in their sole discretion.

TO PARTICIPATE: During the Promotion Period, Siler & Ingber will accept from the members of the public (herein, the “Nominators”) nominations of Eligible Entrants (Mineola Megastars) who live or works in Mineola. Nominations may be entered by visiting www.nylawnet.com/mineolamegastar and completing the online form and essay submission or by emailing photo and essay to marketing@nylawnet.com during the Promotion Period to receive one (1) entry. Essay must not exceed 500 words. Acceptable essay formats are word documents or pdf ONLY. Nominations submitted without all required information or after the Promotion Period will be disregarded.
Online submissions must be received by May 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET to be eligible. All entries become the exclusive property of Siler & Ingber and will not be acknowledged or returned.

ESSAY: During the promotion period, an Entrant can nominate a Mineola MegaStar for the contest by submitting a
photo and essay. The essay must describe why the individual should be chosen as the award winner, including how the individual demonstrates some or all of the following qualifications:

1) an inspiring example to others by helping make Mineola a better place to live (through volunteerism, extra-curricular actives, special projects, giving back, etc.)

2) going above and beyond to aid a friend, family member, stranger or community in a time of need; and/or

3) love of profession and desire, determination and diligence to help outside of normal job responsibilities. The essay must be in English and no more than 500 words. All information provided must be truthful, accurate and complete. An Entrant cannot nominate more than one Hero.

Submitted Materials: Each essay must satisfy all the following submission requirements the Submission


Requirements:

· The essay must be the original creation of Entrant.

· The essay must not portray any recognizable individual without their prior consent, including consent from the
Hero.

· Entrant must either own all rights to the essay or otherwise have the right to submit the essay in the contest and to provide the rights to Sage Surfaces as set forth herein.

· The essay must not infringe any third party’s intellectual property rights.

· The essay may not contain illegal, indecent, obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit content, or otherwise offensive material or inappropriate content such as aberrational behavior, graphic violence, drug abuse, or nudity.

· The essay must not promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.

· The essay must be non-defamatory and must not invade any third party’s right of privacy or publicity.

· The essay must otherwise be appropriate for publication or broadcast or display on a general interest website.

By submitting an essay, each Entrant represents and warrants that the essay meets all of the submission
requirements and that the distribution, reproduction, display and any other uses of any part of the essay by Siler & Ingber as permitted herein will not infringe any third-party rights. Each Entrant further agrees to indemnify and hold Siler & Ingber harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, liabilities and causes of action of whatsoever nature that are based upon or arise out of any breach by such Entrant of such warranties or representations made by contestant or of these official rules.

By submitting an essay, Entrant grants to Siler & Ingber a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide, royalty-free license (and waives all moral rights in and to the essay) to display or otherwise use the essay in connection with this promotion and as set forth herein. If Siler & Ingber determines, in its sole discretion and at any time during the promotion period, that any nomination violates the submission requirements, is otherwise unsuitable, offensive, or in poor taste, or violates these official rules, Siler & Ingber reserves the right to remove and disqualify the essay. Siler & Ingber retains sole
discretion as to whether any nomination satisfies the submission requirements and the official rules.

WINNER SELECTION: For the entry period, a panel of judges will select potential Mineola Megastar finalists based on the compelling nature of the essay based on the criteria set forth herein. Top 5 entries will be announced on May 10, 2023. We will post the top 5 on social media. Final winner announced May 15, 2023. Award Ceremony for Mineola MegaStar will take place on May 19, 2023.


WINNER NOTIFICATION AND RELEASES: We will attempt to notify potential winners via telephone and/or email. If a potential winner: (a) does not respond within 48 hours of initial notification attempt; (b) is not in compliance with these official rules, (c) does not meet the eligibility requirements, (d) declines the prize, he or she will be disqualified, and an alternate winner will be selected by applying the criteria set forth above.
PRIZES: There is 1 Mineola MegaStar. Winner will receive a $500 Cash Prize.

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING: Submission of a nomination in the contest constitutes permission to Siler & Ingber to use Entrants name, identity, title, likeness, distinctive appearance, physical likeness, image, portrait, picture, photograph (whether still or moving), screen persona, voice, vocal style, statements, gesture, mannerism, personality, performance characteristic, biographical data, signature, social media handles and identities, and any other indicia or imitation of identity or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade, in any medium, without further notice, approval, or compensation, unless prohibited by law.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: No transfer, assignment, sale, duplication, cash redemption or substitution of Prize (or portion of Prize) is permitted, except by Sponsors, which reserve the right to substitute a Prize (or applicable portion of Prize) with one of comparable or greater value, as determined by Sponsors. Sponsors are not responsible for and will not replace a lost or stolen Prize or any component thereof. All Prize details are at Sponsors’ sole and absolute discretion. Non-compliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification and, at Sponsors’ sole discretion, the awarding of Prize to an alternate winner.

VERIFICATION OF OFFICIAL WINNER: ALL PRIZE WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION BY SPONSORS, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST.

Do I Have A Case

    Skip to content