Sioux City, Iowa — The Iowa Poison Control Center is seeing an uptick in calls about carbon monoxide poisoning as many of us are indoors most of the time, with our homes and offices sealed up from the cold.
Poison Center spokeswoman Janna Day, a licensed practical nurse, says she hasn’t heard of any carbon monoxide deaths in the state this winter, but there -have- been plenty of poisoning cases.
Day says several home appliances are the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some appliances should never be used inside, like generators. If your house loses power, position the generator at least 20 feet away from your home. Day says another big risk for carbon monoxide poisoning comes from something many Iowans do frequently during the winter.
Warming up a snow blower in the garage could create the same risk. Day recommends getting annual check-ups on your furnace and having at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home, and better yet, at least one on each level. The Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center responds to more than 23,000 cases each year and makes more than 50,000 follow-up calls to ensure patients remain safe. More than half of all cases involve children under the age of 19. The round-the-clock number is 800-222-1222.
KIWA Staff Photo
