More Carbon Monoxide Calls Anticipated
Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning go up in the winter. Typically it's because of a faulty gas heater, or other heat generating device that's not working properly, and lack of ventilation. But an expanding California law is designed to change that.
As it gets colder, emergency responders brace for more calls from people suffering from nausea, lethargy and other flu-like symptoms.
"This is one of the times of year where we start to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning."
Niko King is Assistant Chief of the Sacramento Fire Department.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can build up in spaces that don't have good ventilation. You can be poisoned by breathing it. King says that's why you should install a CO detector.
"These carbon monoxide detectors work really like a smoke detector. You attach them on every level of the house, outside of the sleeping areas and all they're going to do is whenever there's an increased level of carbon monoxide that they're going to sound just like a smoke detector would."
California already requires single-family housing units to have working CO detectors installed.
Beginning January 1st, that requirement will extend to condos and apartments.