Every year, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (not linked to fires) sends 20,000 people to the emergency room and causes more than 4,000 hospitalizations. CO also is responsible for more than 400 deaths in America each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CO often is called “the invisible killer” because it’s odorless and colorless. Everyone is at risk, including exposure from cars, trucks, stoves, grills, gas ranges, and furnaces.

5 Basic Actions to Limit Exposure

1. Install and test CO detectors: Place outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Test them monthly.
2. Don’t create additional risk: Never use gas/charcoal grills inside. Operate generators in well-ventilated outdoor locations only.
3. Be careful in your car: Always move the vehicle out of the garage after starting it to prevent CO buildup.
4. Watch out for snow: Clear snow from vents for dryers, furnaces, stoves, and vehicle exhaust pipes to prevent back-flow.
5. Know the symptoms: Watch for headaches, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness. In high levels, look for confusion and loss of consciousness.