Carbon monoxide poisoning

The treating physician should inquire about the source of the CO and alert authorities or others who may be at risk of exposure. Recommendations should be made to the patient and/or others at risk regarding repair of home heating, car exhaust systems, industrial equipment, or other possible sources of CO. This should also include strong recommendations to install CO detectors. Patients should be aware that CO poisoning results from breathing high levels of CO, can be fatal, and usually results from burning of fuels, poor working condition of gas and furnace appliances, or buildup of gas when appliances are used in a closed environment with no ventilation.

Patients should call the emergency services if they, or anyone in the same environment (e.g., same room, building, or workplace), experience symptoms consistent with CO poisoning such as nausea, headache, dizziness, confusion, fainting, or flu-like illness. This should be done urgently if symptoms are worsening. Patients should immediately leave confined spaces and enter into an open-air environment.