Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that’s hard to detect as it has no taste or smell, but it can make you very ill. If someone breathes in carbon monoxide in large quantities, for example from smoke or vehicle exhaust fumes, it can be fatal.
Carbon monoxide gas may come from:
exhaust fumes of motor vehicles in a confined space
smoke from incomplete burning of coal, gas, logs, and oil in a confined space
blocked chimney flues
disposable or portable barbeques in a confined space
emissions from defective gas or paraffin heaters or boilers
fumes from generators
Signs and symptoms
When exposed to low levels, people may have:
headache
dizziness
confusion or inappropriate behaviour
aggression
flushed skin
nausea and vomiting
weakness
chest pain
When exposed to high levels, they may have:
cherry-red or grey-blue skin colouration
difficulty in breathing
reduced level of response leading to unresponsiveness
