Grand Junction, CO – Our local fire departments are reminding grand valley residents to check their detectors batteries and have one in every room of your house.
Carbon monoxide poisoning kills 400 Americans every year and sends another 20,000 to the emergency room, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Officials said there’s an increased risk for poisoning in the colder months when people are burning fuel for heat which puts the gas, often called “the silent killer” in the air.
“So particularly it’s important in winter time when you might be using items that produce heat, to know what kind of process they use to do that. It may not be safe at all to be inside, said Dirk Clingman from the Grand Junction Fire Department.
Things like puffing your car in the garage or using gas fire places or furnaces can be contributors for CO build up in homes, according to the fire department.
It’s important to be an educated consumer, know what kind of dangerous are inherent in the product you are using, if an emergency generator that is kicking out smoke and you are in a tight enclosed space, for warmth it’s not going to be safe. And you need to know that, said Clingman.