Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages: A Practical Checklist
Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Poisoning from carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless gas released by generators, grills and fuel-burning heaters. CO poisoning rises after storms and power outages, when people use generators and other fuel-burning equipment to stay warm or cook.
Key takeaways
- Symptoms: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion
- Danger: people who are asleep or drunk can die before they have symptoms
- Most useful single change: Install CO alarms near sleeping areas.
- Commonest mistake: Using a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove inside a home, garage, basement or tent.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Install CO alarms near sleeping areas
- Run generators outdoors only, well away from the house
- Have heating systems, water heaters and other fuel-burning appliances checked every year
- Get everyone out to fresh air right away if the CO alarm sounds
Do not
- Using a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove inside a home, garage, basement or tent
- Running a car in a garage, even with the door open
- Heating your home with a gas oven or stove
The numbers behind the list
The reasoning behind both lists, in numbers.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion |
| Danger | people who are asleep or drunk can die before they have symptoms |
| Generators | at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents |
| CO alarms | battery-operated or with battery backup, on every level of the home |
| Checks | test CO alarms and replace batteries when you change your clocks in spring and fall |
If you change one thing
Install CO alarms near sleeping areas. That one first, and the others when you get to them.
Related topics
- What the Guidance Really Says About Indoor Air and Gas Stoves (Environmental Health)
- Smoking and the Heart: What Published Guidance Supports (Heart Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Poisoning Prevention at Home (Injury Prevention)
- Air Quality: What the Evidence Actually Says (Respiratory Health)
Where to go next
- New to Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages? Start Here
- Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages: The Questions People Actually Ask
- Carbon Monoxide During Power Outages — the reference entry
- Weather Safety: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on Lightning Safety, Without the Hype
- What the Guidance Really Says About Flood Water Safety
When to speak to a doctor
If you suspect CO poisoning or your CO alarm goes off, get outside to fresh air immediately and call 911. For questions about possible exposure, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Consumer Product Safety Commission — Carbon Monoxide Information Center
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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