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Running a car or generator in an attached garage can cause fatal CO poisoning in the home. If the cab of a truck is defectively designed, sleeping in the cab while the engine is running can pose a danger. So can using a gas-powered generator or burning wood or charcoal in the basement, crawlspace or even next to a living area if a window or door is open, as lethal fumes could seep into your home.

The best protection against carbon monoxide poisoning in the home is to have a CO detector installed near your bedrooms. Be sure also to have your furnace serviced regularly. To learn more, visit our safety tips page.


 

Centers for Disease Control: "Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning & Houseboats"
  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - An Invisible Danger on Houseboats
Summertime: houseboats, fresh air, and cool water. Invisible but dangerous carbon monoxide couldn't possibly be a threat here--or could it?
You probably know that carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger when gasoline-powered engines are run in enclosed spaces. What many people don't know is that severe carbon monoxide poisoning can also occur outdoors and has been linked with houseboats.
The Problem
Since 1994, there have been at least nine carbon monoxide-related deaths on houseboats, and more than 100 non-fatal poisonings in the U.S. Studies indicate that houseboats with on-board electricity generators that vent toward the rear of the boat can pose a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning to people on the rear swim deck or water platform. Carbon monoxide poisonings have also occurred inside houseboats.
Gasoline-powered engines on houseboats, including the houseboat's onboard generator, produce carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that can poison or kill someone who breathes in too much of it. Carbon monoxide tends to build up above the water near the water platform. The amount of carbon monoxide that can build up in the air space beneath the stern deck on houseboats can be deadly within seconds to minutes and can also reach life-threatening concentrations on and near the swim deck.
The Effects
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and death, or can cause someone to pass out and fall into the water and drown. Unless suspected, carbon monoxide poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms seem like other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from carbon monoxide poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.
If you think someone on your houseboat has carbon monoxide poisoning, move him or her to fresh air quickly and contact your nearest emergency services.
Prevention
How can you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning on or around your houseboat?
  • Install and maintain a working carbon monoxide detector inside the houseboat (remember, this won't alert people to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide at locations outside the houseboat cabin, such as the swim deck).
  • Make sure that all fuel-burning engines and appliances are properly installed, maintained, and operated.
  • Educate all passengers about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if the houseboat has a rear swim deck or water platform.
  • Watch children closely when they are playing on rear swim decks or water platforms for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Swim and enjoy other activities away from areas where gasoline-powered engines vent their exhaust.
Carbon monoxide from exhaust pipes of inboard engines, outboard engines, and generators builds up inside and outside any boat in areas near the exhaust vents. Since 1994, 31 deaths have been reported to the U.S. Coast Guard involving all types of recreational boats. The Coast Guard reminds boaters to be aware of the following:
  • Blocking exhaust outlets can cause carbon monoxide to build up in the cabin and cockpit areas - even when hatches, windows, portholes, and doors are closed.
  • Exhaust from another vessel that is docked, beached, or anchored beside your boat can send carbon monoxide into the cabin and cockpit of your boat. Your boat should always be at least 20 feet from the nearest boat that is running a generator or engine.
  • Slow speeds or idling in the water can cause carbon monoxide to build up in the cabin, cockpit, bridge, and aft deck, even in an open area. Wind entering from the aft section of the boat can also increase this build up of carbon monoxide.
  • The "station wagon effect," or back drafting can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside the cabin, cockpit, and bridge when operating the boat at a high bow angle, with improper or heavy loading, or if there is an opening that draws in exhaust.
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"Carbon monoxide kills one, injures several in SF apartment building"
January 13, 2009, San Francisco Chronicle
  
A carbon monoxide leak in a San Francisco apartment building killed a 77-year-old man and injured eight other people Monday night, even though an alarm meant to detect the dangerous gas had been beeping since Sunday. More...

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