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CO poisoning has many symptoms. Some
symptoms are very similar to the flu, the effects
of intoxication, or drug usage. In many CO
cases, people feel ill and stay home to rest. This
only compounds the CO poisoning because
they stay in the home where CO is present.
As CO levels rise, the symptoms become more
extreme. At low levels people will suffer
headaches and mild nausea. At higher levels
unconsciousness, heart failure, and even death
can occur.
The following symptoms are related to CARBON
MONOXIDE POISONING and should be dis-
cussed with ALL members of the household:
Mild Exposure: Slight headache, nausea, vomit-
ing, fatigue (often described as flu-like symp-
toms).
Medium Exposure: Severe throbbing headache,
drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate.
Extreme Exposure: Unconsciousness, convul-
sions, cardio-respiratory failure, death.
Many cases of reported carbon monoxide poi-
soning indicate that while victims are aware they
are not well, they become so disoriented they
are unable to save themselves by either exiting
the building or calling for assistance. Also,
young children, the elderly, and household pets
may be the first affected by CO poisoning.
The important factor with any CO poisoning,
however, is time. At high levels, CO can cause
death in just minutes. At lower levels, it could
take from hours to days of constant CO expo-
sure to have the same life-threatening effect.
The chart below illustrates the symptoms of CO
poisoning by concentration of CO and its effect
over time.
24
100
0
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
Slight headache within 2-3 hours.
Frontal headache within 1-2 hours.
Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 minutes.
Insensible within 2 hours.
Headache, dizziness, and nausea within 20 minutes.
Death within 2 hours.
Headache, dizziness, and nausea within
5-10 minutes. Death within 30 minutes.
Headache, dizziness, 1-2 minutes.
Death in less than 15 minutes.
Concentration of CO in air (ppm)
Death in less than 3 minutes.
The following list illustrates some danger signs
of CO presence.
1. Soot and dirt build-up seeping out of chimney
or other exhaust vents.
2. A mostly yellow (rather than clear blue) burner
flame or pilot flame in gas appliances.
3. A draft of air coming from an appliance,
chimney, or vents.
If you have flu-like symptoms or suspect
CO poisoning, seek medical assistance
immediately!
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning