Carbon Monoxide Headquarters


Carbon Monoxide Poisoning


Recommendations with Respect to SIDS and the Role of CO:

  • Pregnant women, infants, and children should reside in a smoke-free environment.

  • Keep all combustion appliances and venting systems in good repair, free of obstructions, and use with adequate ventilation. Pre-season check-ups for furnaces are prudent.

  • Keep the exhaust system on the car in good repair and ventilate (open window occasionally) on trips.

  • Consider a move if you plan to become pregnant or already have small children and you live very close to a high auto traffic area/intersection.

  • If you live in an apartment, ask the manager to have any basement combustion appliances inspected regularly as CO can enter your apartment from the basement, underground parking area, etc.

  • If you have an attached garage, take care that CO does not seep into the house following car start-ups.

  • Use caution around fires, such as camp fires and leaf burning, and stay out of direct smoke flow. In addition, barbecue grills on apartment patios and similar situations can pose a threat to the indoor air. Never use barbecue grills indoors.

  • Be aware of CO sources in the workplace during pregnancy and take necessary precautions.

  • Breastfeed to ensure added immunolological and other benefits ie., fewer gastrointestinal ailments.

  • A very important recommendation: Install a CO detector (or several) in the home if you have combustion appliances, a smoker, live near a high traffic area/intersection, have an attached garage, or have any other significant threat of CO to indoor air.

  • You may wish to take your CO detector along with you on extended trips (ie. a trip to grandparents' home or on vacation).

  • When shopping for a CO detector, consider one of the newer models that sounds an alarm at low levels (under 10 ppm), which will better protect infants and young children.



    ...... last changed 02/19/00


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