Carbon Monoxide a Risk at Camp.

Each year, approximately thirty people die and 450 are injured as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from using portable camping heaters, lanterns, or stoves inside tents, campers, and vehicles. At least one camper was killed this summer from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a portable heater used to heat a cabin.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fossil fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. Heating and cooking equipment are possible sources of CO, as are vehicles or generators running in an attached garage. Never burn charcoal, or use portable camping heaters, lanterns or stoves inside of tents, campers, or vehicles.

What is the effect of exposure to CO?

CO can kill body cells. It also replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, leading to suffocation. It is especially toxic to infants, the elderly, smokers, mother and child during pregnancy, and people with blood or circulatory system problems, such as anemia, or heart disease. Mild effects feel like the flu, while severe effects include difficulty breathing and even death. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include severe headache, disorientation, agitation, lethargy, stupor, and coma.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the following guidelines:

* Do not use portable heaters or lanterns while sleeping in enclosed areas such as tents, campers, and other vehicles. This is especially important at high altitudes where the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is increased.

* Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, and confusion. Carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Low blood oxygen levels can result in loss of consciousness and death.

* See a doctor if an individual develops cold or flu-like symptoms. Carbon monoxide poisoning, which can easily be mistaken for a cold or flu, is often detected too late.

* Install carbon monoxide detectors in buildings where fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces are utilized.

* Have a qualified technician evaluate chimneys and chimney connectors to verify proper installation, and check for cracks, blockages, or leaks. Make needed repairs before using the equipment.

* Open a window slightly whenever using a kerosene or gas heater. (Kerosene heaters are illegal in many states. Always check with local authorities before buying or using one.)

* Refuel only outside, after the device has cooled.

* When purchasing new heating and cooking equipment, select factory-built products approved by an independent testing laboratory. Do not accept damaged equipment. Hire a qualified technician (usually employed by the local oil or gas company) to install the equipment. Ask about -- and insist that the technician follow -- applicable fire safety and local building codes.