Carbon monoxide poisoning: what are the symptoms, dangers

Two men died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a housing project in Columbia, SC. Our medical reporter, Rosemarie Beltz, explains what can happen to people if they're exposed to the dangerous gas.

[lakeysamariewrightphd]

It's interesting! Can't smell the odorless gas but can sense a gas leak. I'm so glad I smelled the gas leak in the place where I am now. Thank God for insight.

[ilae.williams]

Headache, chest pains...I was terribly ill...noticed when I went to work, I felt better...had gas appliances...light bulb moment! Noticed pilot light of gas oven was out, it is a terrible, terrible feeling: headache, chest pains, hard to describe the terrible pain...

[Seriouslydave]

Was tuning mower idle for too long exhaust in face not much wind, sudden headache pain in chest, fuzzy thoughts, felt sick. Stumbled away from mower. Sit in shade.

[amazingsupergirl]

Your doctor won’t know. Just go sit outside for 30 minutes and if you’re fine until you go back in the house, it could be CO. If you tell your doctor you feel fluish and are throwing up there’s no way they’ll think of CO. Get a bunch of monsters. They’re cheap. Aldo a brand new house can leak just as likely as an old place. Are your pets sick too? Do guests get sick?

[spn]

What would a blood test show if you have been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning?

[alanskinner]

I had a friend that was working in his garage with a gas powered welder, Yup! it Killed him. His wife found him dead about six hours later.

[caydenbangbang]

This just came in my house and I was like “dOoD”

[Whossabj]

This video gives allot of studying for me

[samuelcunningham]

Oh great another thing to watch out that might kill me

[albertdonnay]

Home CO alarms that meet UL2034 standard required by most states could have saved these men's lives -- if they were working as intended. But they are only meant to save lives and explicitly do warn against or even display lower levels of exposure that cause CO poisoning.

When they display "0", the actual level may be anywhere from 0 to 29ppm, and they won't alarm until over 70ppm.

The WHO air quality guideline for CO exposure is 4mg/m3 average (about 3.5ppm), and EPA NAAQS for CO is 9ppm average.

The only way to really be protected against CO is to get a personal portable monitor that displays from 1ppm and keep it with you 24/7. They cost about $100-$200 and are commonly worn by workers who have exposure to CO every day. You can also use these to measure CO in your exhaled breath, which is cheaper, faster, more accurate and of course less painful than a COHb blood test.

[NickatoyaHackedbyAzurX]

Do they have a lab that can come check your home

[HawkqOjOp]

This is trying to be informative but it's really not. First, most of their grammar is terrible. Second, most detectors do not detect at low enough levels, only when it becomes deadly. The ones that detect tiny levels are very expensive, and those prices must come down so everyone can buy them. Third, I had my older furnace checked regularly but it was not until a very good company slid a camera down into the exchange heater only to discover a crack that was old enough to have rusted on the edges. I kept a photo of it. I asked them what that means. All 3 said simultaneously, "slow carbon monoxide poisoning." I said "OMG." They all look at me and said "what?" I replied, "Sh*t, that explains everything!" I described the symptoms and they said "yep."

Estimated, I was getting small levels of carbon monoxide poisoning for 3 or 4 years. Starting the first day of the new furnace (old one turned off immediately, marked legally unsafe, and new one installed 6 hours later), many odd symptoms began to subside gradually. Over $10, 000 in tests and 3 years of treatment from top advanced medical center, 6 specialists and various others, none diagnosed it but one miracle medication helped. In hindsight, now I know why. The drug opens blood vessels.

Got a new "free" CM detector with the new furnace that they said was industrial strength in that it detects TINY levels, giving me different alarms according to levels. They told me the cost is about $300+ so enjoy it while you can.

During the time to diagnose, one doctor laughed and said your oxygen is fine, it's 97%. I said it's usually 99%. Ignored. The only other major clue they missed was the brain scan. White matter lesions, about 40 of them. They said many have those and it's normal over time, so ignore those. Erm, past ones did not have any. i can list symptoms for readers if interested, but my guess is they vary for different people. Get the expensive detectors, and if not possible, at least have the heater exchange examined inside by a professional on maintenance calls. Also have professionals check gas water heater piping - if not done properly, also a risk. They also re-piped all of my water heater connections.

[pyl]

I hope she did not get paid, for this information. We could have gotten more info, by googling.

[robertshrewsbury]

I get CO2 gas build up a lot, because I am on Oxygen and I am an X-smoker with a crust on/in my lungs. This causes CO2 gas to build up and make me ill and accompanied with severe insomnia. Finally I found the a good 500 MG of (time sustained) Niacin takes it out in about 15/20 minutes.

[yunonufc]

doctors doesnt know the symptopms i had alfa romeo stelvio it had carbon monoxide poisoning my system horrible for 3 years i spend over 15000 dollars no one knew even the dealership didn't check the catalytic converter which was damaged i almost died in the car iam lucky iam still alive

[ameermccoy]

If carbon monoxide positioning is permanent then it's over

[RedOpp-]

Blue suv almost toke out that car @3:51

[xMrAmity]

Watching from Australia and im just impressed you guys have so many ways to die it's just impressive maybe find an alternative fuel source 🤣 electric appliances instead of gas problem solved your welcome America

[Degenpilot]

i would devour this dr in the red shirt devour

[ilae.williams]

Headache, chest pains...I was terribly ill...noticed when I went to work, I felt better...had gas appliances...light bulb moment! Noticed pilot light of gas oven was out, it is a terrible, terrible feeling: headache, chest pains, hard to describe the terrible pain...