Minneapolis Health Department Warns Of Carbon Monoxide Dangers During Awareness Month

Minneapolis Health Department Warns Of Carbon Monoxide Dangers During Awareness Month

In what might seem a sobering statistic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that annually over 1,200 people die and more than 100,000 find themselves in the emergency room due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This fact alone underscores the importance of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month.

While the dangers of CO may not be visible, they are preventable. The Minneapolis Health Department has taken to social media to emphasize a simple, yet crucial checklist to ensure safety at home. Among the key points, residents are advised to keep their kitchen vents running while cooking, to avoid the use of generators or portable flameless chemical heaters indoors, and to yearly check and clean their chimneys.

The National Safety Council also offers a resource trove for those aiming to learn more about CO and methods for keeping homes safe from this colorless, odorless gas. Their guidance promotes proactive measures, like checking the batteries of your carbon monoxide detectors—a simple act that requires a moment's effort but holds the potential to save lives.

As colder weather prompts us to seek warmth, we must do so with care. Letting the fireplace damper stay open until the ashes are cool and never tempting fate by heating your home with a gas oven are not just tips, but essentials.

SOURCE: hoodline