Be Careful of Summer Carbon Monoxide Sources

Summertime can mean vacations and fun activities outdoors involving cool gear, like boat trips, camping, cookouts, and weekend projects around the house. When it comes to summer harm prevention, it’s easy to only focus on sunscreen, bug spray, and water safety. But don’t forget about another, less visible danger: carbon monoxide (abbreviated as CO).

Carbon monoxide poisoning is more common than many people think. Each year, it sends more than 100,000 Americans to emergency rooms, with 14,000 hospitalizations and more than 400 deaths. And many of those cases happen when the weather is warm.

Most people link CO to cold weather, when furnaces run and windows stay shut. But summer brings its own set of risks that not many folks think about.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

CO is a gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. When you breathe too much CO, it takes the place of oxygen in your blood, damaging your tissues and organs.

"Your body can’t use the oxygen you’re breathing in," notes Christopher Holstege, MD, director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health. "And that’s when things can really go badly.” In serious cases, CO poisoning can kill you. it's often called the "silent killer."

CO gets into the air when burning fuels, like natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil, kerosene, charcoal, and wood.

Summer Carbon Monoxide Sources

Boats

Boating is one of the biggest, but least expected, summertime CO risks. Boat engines give off CO just like car engines do. (Sailboats, unless they also feature an engine, don’t have this problem.)

CO can build up in a boat's cabin, on the deck, and in the open air around the back of the boat. This is especially true when the boat is moving slowly, idling, or parked.

To stay safe around gas-powered boats:

• Stay away from the back of the boat, where exhaust exits
• Never block the boat's exhaust outlets
• Keep children away from swim decks and platforms near the engine
• When docked, stay at least 20 feet away from other boats running their engines or generators
• Install a CO alarm in your boat's cabin

Small Engine Tools

You may already know that car engines and large generators can produce CO. But smaller machines and tools powered by fossil fuels can also give off a significant amount of CO. These are some of the tools commonly used throughout the summer:

• Pressure washers
• Air compressors
• Lawn tools, like mowers, edgers, and leaf blowers
• Chainsaws and other power tools

These small-engine tools are usually safe when used outside in open spaces. The danger comes when you run them in a closed or partly closed area, like a garage, basement, barn, attic, or crawlspace. “Anytime we burn fossil fuels, it generates carbon monoxide,” Holstege says. “Bringing that inside is a horrible idea.”

Here is what makes CO so tricky: even a garage with the door open can trap dangerous levels of CO. The same goes for spaces with open windows or exhaust fans. By the time you feel sick, it may be hard to get yourself to safety.

When you can, choose electric-powered (plug-in or battery) tools for any work indoors or in enclosed spaces.

Camping Stoves, Grills, & Lanterns

Camping trips are another time when CO risk rises. Many campers use gas or propane stoves, charcoal grills, and fuel-burning lanterns. These are safe outdoors in open air. But they can be deadly inside a tent, cabin, or RV, even with a window open.

Never use a charcoal or gas grill in any enclosed space. And if you’re camping in an RV, make sure your vents are open for good airflow. Before settling in, check that nothing is blocking the exhaust pipe like tall grass, weeds, or a nearby wall or fence.

Generators After Summer Storms

Like winter storms, summer storms can knock out power fast. When that happens, many families turn to portable generators.

Portable generators can produce lots of CO as they run. They can fill an enclosed space with deadly levels of CO in just a matter of minutes.

Generators should always be run outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Never run a generator in a garage, basement, or porch, even with the door open or windows nearby.

“Power outages always bring a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Holstege. “Having a generator far enough from the house — and certainly not in the house — [and] having a carbon monoxide detector is the best thing to have. I have one by my furnace and hot water heater, and another in the main living area. If that goes off, make sure you pay attention to it. Don’t think it’s faulty; seriously consider that you may have carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Home Gas Appliances

No matter the time if year, some everyday appliances can produce CO. Common sources include:

• Gas stoves and ovens
• Gas water heaters
• Gas clothes dryers
• Grills placed too close to doors or windows

Never use a gas oven to heat your home. And always use grills fully outside, well away from any door or window.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Carbon monoxide can make anyone sick. Some people face greater danger than others if they're exposed to CO:

• Young children
• Pregnant people
• Older adults
• Smokers
• People with heart disease
• People with asthma or other breathing problems
• People with anemia

Mild symptoms include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Fast heartbeat
• Trouble breathing

More serious symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Passing out or having a seizure

If exposed, “You may find the whole family gets the symptoms, that everyone is starting to get a headache, getting nausea,” Holstege says. If you go to the emergency room, we can measure how much CO is in your blood. This can help confirm if you've been poisoned.

Protect Your Family from CO All Summer Long

The good news is that CO poisoning is entirely preventable. A few simple habits can make a big difference.

• Install CO alarms in your home. Every home should have at least one. Place one within 10 feet of each sleeping area.
• Take a portable CO detector when camping, boating, or traveling.
• Never use fuel-powered tools or grills in enclosed spaces. Choose electric tools when working indoors or in tight spaces.
• Keep running generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• Have your gas appliances and small engine tools checked and maintained regularly. Make sure your boat engine is well maintained.
• Use an exhaust fan over your gas stove that vents to the outside.
• Replace CO alarms every 5-7 years. Check the manufacturer's guide for your specific model.

What to Do If You Think It Might Be CO

Carbon monoxide can make you pass out quickly, making it hard to escape on your own. When in doubt, get out, then call for help.

Act fast to:

• Get everyone, including pets, outside into fresh air immediately.
• Call 911 right away.
• If it's safe, turn off any running equipment.
• Don't go back inside until emergency workers have checked checked you out and have checked the air.

Not sure whether someone has been exposed to CO? Call the Blue Ridge Poison Center experts at 800.222.1222 anytime, day or night. The call is free and confidential.

Carbon monoxide doesn't take the season off. But with the right knowledge and a few smart steps, you can keep your family safe.