Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon monoxide (CO), also known as "the silent killer" is a very toxic gas that has the potential to take lives in a very short period of time.
 This substance, aside from being poisonous, is also odorless, tasteless, and colorless.
 Human senses alone cannot detect its presence.
 All of these characteristics combined make CO both extremely dangerous and frighteningly deadly.
Fortunately, carbon monoxide does not naturally exist in the environment at levels high enough to harm human beings.
 It can, however, be produced in dangerous amounts by malfunctioning appliances that are located in areas with low ventilation.
 The scary part about this is that, if you are unaware of the CO leak, you could be poisoned in your sleep and pass away without noticing or experiencing any symptoms.
How CO Is Formed Carbon monoxide is created when combustibles are burned.
 Typically, appliances that are fueled by carbon-based materials will burn them more or less fully, so that only negligible amounts of CO are produced.
 However, when these machines and mechanisms are not functioning properly, they have the potential to perform incomplete combustion and in turn, generate hazardous amounts of this deadly gas.
Symptoms of CO Poisoning Unfortunately, the symptoms of CO poisoning are very similar to those of other, very common illnesses such as the flu or the common cold:

• Headache
• Weakness and dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Confusion

Watch out for the sudden onset of these poisoning signs.
 It is quite possible to mistake them for symptoms of another illness, so if you begin to sense these indications of being poisoned, seek fresh air immediately and wait to see if they subside.
Protect Yourself There are certain steps you can take in order to protect yourself and your family against the dangers of carbon monoxide infiltration.
 While there isn't much you do to safeguard yourself in your school or workplace, there are measures you can take at home:

• Perform regular maintenance on your fuel-burning appliances (boilers, furnaces)
• Make sure your fuel-burning appliances vent their fumes to the outside
• Ensure that your home is well-ventilated
• Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home
• Never idle your car in your garage, especially when the garage door is closed
• If you or a family member begins to feel the symptoms of CO poisoning, evacuate the area immediately

By taking these simple actions, you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a carbon monoxide poisoning victim.
Contact Us If you or someone you love has suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as the result of another party's negligence, then you have the right to recover damages.
 The St.
Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.
A.
have the experience and qualifications necessary to help you make an effective claim.
 To learn more, please visit http://www.
personal-injuries-attorneys.
com/ today.