Common causes of accidental CO poisoning
| Cause | Reason | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater, furnace | Clogged burner, blocked vent, faulty pilot light, damage from basement flooding | Regular maintenance and repairs, correct installation, look for yellow flames |
| Fireplace, chimney | Poor ventilation because of birds’ nests, soot, leaves | Regular check and sweep of chimney, chimney cap |
| Portable heater | All combustion products are vented into room | Keep well maintained. Do not allow build up of rust, dirt, etc. Never use in enclosed space. Some devices have CO shutoff devices. |
| Kitchen range/stove | Rust, clogged burner, dirt, improper installation, faulty device | Regular maintenance and repairs, correct installation, look for yellow flames, never warm home using a natural gas or propane oven |
| Attached garage | Running car engine in an attached garage, especially if door closed | Never warm up car engine in garage |
| Lawnmowers, leaf/snowblowers, fork-lift trucks, | Petrol or propane driven engines use in confined spaces | Awareness of the risk of using such devices in enclosed spaces, Health and Safety legislation |
| Indoor charcoal barbeques | Release of CO from charcoal embers | Never use charcoal barbeques indoors |
| SCUBA compressors | CO exhaust from compressor too close to air intake | Use only authorised agencies to fill tanks |