Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research has revealed that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning was the leading cause of unintentional deaths in the United States between 2000 and 2009. 

• Non fire related CO poisoning accounts for approximately 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths annually. 
• 68,316 CO exposures were reported reported to poisoning centers between 2000 and 2009

According to OSHA, "Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present. CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces and coke ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine."

Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the body's vital organs such as the heart or the brain. When exposed to large enough amounts of CO it can cause you to suffocate or lose consciousness within minutes. 

The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• headache
• dizziness
• weakness
• nausea
• vomiting
• chest pain
• confusion
• loss of consciousness
• suffocation
• death

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured by carbon monoxide poisoning due to someone else's negligence, contact our Attorneys for a free consultation.