Health experts warn of another type of soft, quiet hazard — besides snow — amid winter weather
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginia welcomed its first snow of the year on Sunday. While staying cozy in your home is the safest way to spend snow days, you still need to do your part to protect yourself and your family indoors. Much like how snow is soft and quiet, carbon monoxide is known as the "silent killer." As temperatures plummet and power becomes less than reliable, health experts like Chris Holstege with UVA Health's Blue Ridge Poison Center urge people to protect themselves from this colorless, odorless toxin. "The concern, always, is of people bringing in generators into their homes or trying to heat their homes with a stove or with a grill that's meant for the outdoors," Holstege said. Holstege told 8News that more than 500 Americans die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. According to a report shared by the American Meteorological Society, 17% of those deaths are associated with winter weather. Freezing temperatures expected to turn roads into sheets of ice across Virginia Central Virginia's first snow serves as a catalyst for alternative heating measures. "We also have people who are using their fireplaces -- wood burning and gas," Holstege said. "This might be the first time during the year that they're using those also to heat the home and making sure that those are working properly [is important]." It's critical that homes have a functioning carbon monoxide detector. While monitoring symptoms is important, it's not a foolproof way to see if you're a victim of carbon monoxide, according to health professionals. They add that too many people each year go to bed thinking they have a standard virus like the flu — then never wake up. Immediate boil water advisory issued for Richmond, residents should limit water use "You may see things such as a mild headache, nausea, muscle aches, things that mimic influenza," Holstege said of the symptoms. "Certainly clues to [carbon monoxide poisoning] are if others in the home all have the same symptoms at the same time, or if you find those symptoms are worse when you're in your home. but when you leave, they seem to improve. And we've even had people warned and found out about it because their pets were acting out." Depending on how highly concentrated the carbon monoxide exposure is, an individual can go unconscious within just a few breaths, so experts said it's better to be safe than sorry. If your detector goes off -- or you suspect you're being exposed -- contact your local fire department to check the levels. You can also reach out to the Blue Ridge Poison Center with questions and concerns.
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginia welcomed its first snow of the year on Sunday. While staying cozy in your home is the safest way to spend snow days, you still need to do your part to protect yourself and your family indoors.
Much like how snow is soft and quiet, carbon monoxide is known as the "silent killer." As temperatures plummet and power becomes less than reliable, health experts like Chris Holstege with UVA Health's Blue Ridge Poison Center urge people to protect themselves from this colorless, odorless toxin.
"The concern, always, is of people bringing in generators into their homes or trying to heat their homes with a stove or with a grill that's meant for the outdoors," Holstege said.
Holstege told 8News that more than 500 Americans die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. According to a report shared by the American Meteorological Society, 17% of those deaths are associated with winter weather.
Freezing temperatures expected to turn roads into sheets of ice across Virginia
Central Virginia's first snow serves as a catalyst for alternative heating measures.
"We also have people who are using their fireplaces -- wood burning and gas," Holstege said. "This might be the first time during the year that they're using those also to heat the home and making sure that those are working properly [is important]."
It's critical that homes have a functioning carbon monoxide detector. While monitoring symptoms is important, it's not a foolproof way to see if you're a victim of carbon monoxide, according to health professionals. They add that too many people each year go to bed thinking they have a standard virus like the flu — then never wake up.
Immediate boil water advisory issued for Richmond, residents should limit water use
"You may see things such as a mild headache, nausea, muscle aches, things that mimic influenza," Holstege said of the symptoms. "Certainly clues to [carbon monoxide poisoning] are if others in the home all have the same symptoms at the same time, or if you find those symptoms are worse when you're in your home. but when you leave, they seem to improve. And we've even had people warned and found out about it because their pets were acting out."
Depending on how highly concentrated the carbon monoxide exposure is, an individual can go unconscious within just a few breaths, so experts said it's better to be safe than sorry.
If your detector goes off -- or you suspect you're being exposed -- contact your local fire department to check the levels. You can also reach out to the Blue Ridge Poison Center with questions and concerns.
