Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention

An official website of the United States government Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Carbon monoxide, also known as CO, is called the “invisible killer” because it's a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is undetectable to the human senses, so people may not know that they are being exposed.

CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly.

Did you know:

Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. More than 150 people in the United States die every year from accidental nonfire-related CO.

Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission

Keep your community informed about the dangers of CO with these messages and free materials.

Messages to share

Click to copy message.

Protect your family from the dangers of CO

Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.

Install CO alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home.

Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows and vents.

Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.

Social media graphics and stock photos

social media card: test carbon monoxide alarms

Pictographs

Pictographs can help overcome literacy barriers by communicating messages with pictures. Our pictographs will help you to communicate safety messages to high-risk populations.