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(USGovernment-News.Com, December 18, 2013 ) GOLDSBORO, NC – The Odorless Killer, otherwise known as carbon monoxide, tends to cause more illnesses and deaths when the temperatures outdoors begin to drop. One of the primary reasons carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the cold weather is due to household items such as furnaces and gas stoves, while most illnesses and deaths from carbon monoxide are preventable.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas which may be toxic to humans and animals when it’s encountered in greater concentrations. These higher concentrations may be produced when a household appliance malfunctions, has not been maintained, or has not been installed properly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for approximately 15,000 emergency department visits and nearly 500 deaths annually in the United States” and “carbon monoxide is a leading cause of unintentional poisoning deaths in the United States”.
The poisoning is often caused when devices burning fossil fuels malfunction or are used in poorly ventilated environments, such as in our homes during the winter months. Most often, victims of carbon monoxide poisoning are asleep while inhaling the toxic fumes over the course of the night. Some of these individuals will wake up feeling weak and nauseated, while many will never wake up.
Individuals that believe they may be effected by carbon monoxide poisoning are recommended to get out of the house into fresh air and report the incident from a neighbor’s home, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is also recommend that these people report the incident to the fire department and report their symptoms. Next, these individuals should immediately visit a health care provider for proper diagnosis.
To keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning, our attorneys recommend installing carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, servicing your appliances each year, using stoves and fireplaces in ventilated areas, avoiding the use coal burning appliances indoors, and not leaving vehicles running with your garage door closed. By doing so, it may eliminate all carbon monoxide related illnesses and deaths, and keep your family safe during the winter months.
About Riddle & Brantley
With offices in Raleigh, Kinston, Goldsboro and Jacksonville, North Carolina, Riddle & Brantley delivers justice on behalf of injury and accident victims across the state. As one of the largest personal injury firms in North Carolina, Riddle & Brantley’s dedicated attorneys utilize their experience and passion for justice to protect the victims of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, product liability claims, nursing home abuse and neglect, and Social Security Disability claims, as well as workers’ compensation and premises liability claims. For more information, contact Riddle & Brantley for a free, confidential case review by visiting wwwjusticecounts.com or by calling 800-525-7111.
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