This is a list of ailments and conditions that may affect you or your family at certain stages of life. Here you will find information such as the symptoms, and the best way to relieve the situation until a medical professional has been called.
You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide gas (CO) – but high levels of it can kill very quickly. As carbon monoxide builds up in the air, you breathe it in, instead of healthy oxygen. If the concentration of carbon monoxide is high enough, you will develop the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include:
Headache
Tiredness, drowsiness
Dizziness
Confusion
Nausea
Chest pain
Feeling faint
Breathlessness
Stomach pains
You might not suspect CO poisoning at first, as many of these symptoms could be mistaken for flu or other illnesses.
What to do
If you think that you or someone else has CO poisoning:
Get fresh air immediately – open doors and windows, turn off boilers and heaters and leave the house
Go to your hospital’s casualty department and say you suspect CO poisoning. A blood test can confirm this very quickly.
Have answers to these questions ready for the casualty doctor:
Do the symptoms occur only in the house?
Do they disappear or decrease when you leave home and reappear when you return?
Is anyone else in your household complaining of similar symptoms?
Did everyone’s symptoms appear about the same time?
Are you using any fuel-burning appliances in the home?
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