Experts say carbon monoxide poisoning can catch anyone off guard

BURLINGTON, Vt.  – Experts say carbon monoxide poisoning can catch anyone off guard without proper precaution. Terry Francis, Deputy Chief of the South Burlington Fire Department, was on a routine building inspection when his carbon monoxide monitor beeped. “As soon as I walked in, the thing went off into alarm,” said Francis. There were 5,000 parts per million of carbon monoxide in the air – a lethal leak. However, the crew never suspected a thing. “They said that everyone was feeling bad and they figured it was just the flu,” said Francis. Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by too much exposure to the clear, odorless, tasteless gas. It presents flu-like symptoms and is especially common in the winter when folks are heating up carbon monoxide emitters like cars, fireplaces, and water heaters. Over 400 Americans die annually from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires. In the last ten years, Vermont has seen 16 carbon monoxide-related deaths. Most recently in our region, a family of four died on Christmas day from a carbon monoxide leak in New Hampshire.