Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Staying Safe Through a Grand Rapids Winter

Carbon Monoxide Safety in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless gas produced any time fuel is burned — in furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, fireplaces, cars, and generators. You can’t see it or smell it, which is why it’s called “the invisible killer.” The CDC reports that CO poisoning causes hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of emergency-room visits in the U.S. each year, and the risk is highest in the cold months — exactly when Grand Rapids homes are sealed up and furnaces run hardest.

Know the symptoms

CO poisoning can feel like the flu — without a fever. Watch for:

• Headache
• Dizziness or weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness

A key clue: if several people (or pets) in the home feel sick at the same time, or symptoms improve when you leave the house and return when you go back, suspect carbon monoxide.

People who are sleeping or who have been drinking can die from CO poisoning before they ever have symptoms.

If you suspect CO poisoning

1. Get everyone outside to fresh air immediately.
2. Call 911 from outside the home.
3. Don’t go back inside until emergency responders say it’s safe.

Tell medical staff you suspect carbon monoxide so they can check your blood and give oxygen quickly.

Prevent it: a Grand Rapids winter checklist

• Install CO alarms on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace batteries (and the whole unit every 5–7 years, or per the manufacturer).
• Have your furnace and chimney inspected every year before heating season by a qualified technician.
• Never run a generator, grill, or any gas engine inside a home, basement, or attached garage — even with the door open. Keep generators at least 20 feet from the house, away from windows and vents.
• Never use a gas oven or stovetop to heat your home.
• Don’t warm up your car in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.
• After heavy snow, clear snow away from furnace and dryer exhaust vents outside — blocked vents are a common winter cause of CO buildup in Michigan.

Higher-risk situations

CO poisoning often spikes during winter storms and power outages, when people turn to generators, camp stoves, and alternative heat. If the power goes out in West Michigan, plan ahead for safe heating and keep generators far outside. Unborn babies, infants, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions are especially vulnerable.