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Time to check detectors to avoid health risks
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MONROE — Green County Public Health wants to remind residents it’s that time of year to take action to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. 

“We start seeing more carbon monoxide poisonings as temperatures drop,” said RoAnn Warden, Green County Public Health Director. “Now is the time for Green County residents to make sure their heating sources and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.”

 To protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide, follow these safety tips:

Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. All homes and duplexes in Wisconsin are required to have detectors on every level, including the basement, but not the attic or storage areas. Detectors can be purchased at most hardware stores for under $50. Daylight Savings Time is a good time each year to replace the batteries in your detector and push the “test” button to be sure it’s working properly. Replace your detector every five years or according to manufacturer’s instructions. 

Have your furnace or wood-burning stove inspected annually. Hire a professional to make sure it is functionally sound and vents properly outside the home.

Never run a gasoline or propane heater or a grill (gas or charcoal) inside your home or garage. Any heating system that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide. Use a battery-powered detector where you have fuel burning devices but no electric outlets, such as in tents, cabins and RVs.

Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from the home. Never run a generator in the home or garage, or right next to windows or doors. 

Never run a car in an enclosed space. Even with a door or window open, carbon monoxide levels can still build up to an unsafe level. At high levels, carbon monoxide can cause death within minutes. 

Symptoms of overexposure to carbon monoxide include headache, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and confusion. If you think you may be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, or your detector sounds an alarm, head outside immediately for fresh air and call 911.