Carbon Monoxide

Illinois requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes and apartments.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It's produced when any fossil fuel, including natural gas, is burned. When fossil fuels do not burn properly, CO can build up and cause sickness – even death.

Safety measures:

Never heat your home with your gas range or oven.
Never burn charcoal inside your home or garage.
Always open the chimney flue when you use your fireplace.
Never run a combustion engine, such as your car, lawn mower or snow blower, in enclosed areas.

Install a CO detector:

Install a CO detector near all bedrooms in the house.
Do not install a detector near your kitchen or garage or in a room with a furnace.
If your detector goes off and you feel ill, leave the house and call 911 or the local fire department. If you do not feel ill, push your detector's reset button. If the alarm goes off again after a few minutes, open the windows, leave the house and call 911 or the local fire department.

Recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning:

Dizziness, nausea, headache and coughing
Irregular heartbeat
Pale skin with cherry red lips and ear tips

Know what to do if you suspect CO poisoning:

Get fresh air and stay outside.
Call 911 or the local fire department.