Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled. Treat every alarm as real, even if no one feels unwell.
Right now
- Get everyone, including pets, out of the building
- Call 911 from outside
- Tell the dispatcher if anyone has a headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion
- Stay outside until responders say it is safe to go back in
Why these steps matter
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when fuel burns. Symptoms of exposure are easy to mistake for the flu, and they can come on without anyone noticing. Leaving the building is the only step that protects everyone at once.
After responders have been
Responders measure the air and find which appliance, vehicle or other source was involved. If a furnace, boiler or other fuel-burning appliance was the source, it stays off until it has been inspected and repaired.
Preventing the next one
Carbon monoxide alarms belong on every level of the house and near sleeping areas, placed and replaced as their instructions say. Having fuel-burning heating equipment checked every year, and keeping its vents and flues clear, keeps the risk low.