When can carbon monoxide levels rise rapidly?

Carbon monoxide levels in a persons body/bloodstream can rise in any situation where a person (or animal) breathes air containing higher than normal levels of carbon monoxide.

The instant a person is exposed to a higher than safe level of carbon monoxide in the air they breath, they will begin to be starved of oxygen and start being poisoned as carbon monoxide levels in their blood stream rise above normal. It then becomes a question of how serious the poisoning is.

The largest numbers of poisonings occur in winter when fireplaces, furnaces and boilers are being used to keep buildings warm.

Modern buildings are much more airtight which allows carbon monoxide levels in the air to rise fast if there is a nearby source of carbon monoxide.

Vehicles are also left idling more during winter. This creates circumstances that can easily cause carbon monoxide levels to rise within a vehicle and the surrounding area (such as a garage).

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs most often indoors, in semi-enclosed spaces and in confined spaces.

During winter, doors and windows are shut to keep the heat in and the cold out. This can easily trap unsafe carbon monoxide levels in a home, vehicle or work area.

The instant carbon monoxide is unable to properly vent outside or disperse into the atmosphere the carbon monoxide levels in the air can rise dangerously.

Power outages and natural disasters greatly increase the carbon monoxide risk as people are placed in unfamiliar circumstances using unfamiliar equipment.

Gasoline and diesel electric generators add to the number of poisonings, especially when used by people that are unfamiliar with the equipment. Many generator carbon monoxide poisonings occur during power outages and natural disasters. The number of these poisonings is rising as generators become less expensive and more common.

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Carbon Monoxide Survivor.com