Generator safety: Avoiding carbon monoxide
Learn how improper use of a generator can lead to serious and even deadly consequences.
In the aftermath of a storm or other weather-related emergency that causes a power outage, a generator can provide immediate relief. But using it incorrectly can also lead to injury or death.
Generators emit carbon monoxide – a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can be deadly if inhaled.
“That is why generators should be stored outside and away from windows and doors,” says Dr. Spencer Greene. “Whether it is a portable or house generator, the exhaust should never come into the house.”
Dr. Green is the director of toxicology and director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, and a clinical professor at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine.
As a toxicologist, Dr. Greene is renowned for his work at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood treating more than one hundred snake bites and insect stings every year, but during hurricane season and the winter months, Dr. Greene turns his focus to carbon monoxide poisoning when home generator use is at its peak.
“I usually have up to 20 carbon monoxide poisoning patients a year,” Dr. Greene says. “The numbers have increased, I think, because the number of severe storms affecting the Gulf Coast are up and so, the use of portable generators increases as well.”
Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms and treatment
Dr. Greene calls carbon monoxide the “great masquerader” because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific. Symptoms often mimic the flu, food poisoning, heart disease and other illnesses.
“Patients complain of headache, dizziness and, in more severe cases, confusion or even seizures or loss of consciousness,” he says.
Additional symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks
Because it is odorless, if someone is concerned about a foul-smelling gas, it probably is not carbon monoxide, Dr. Greene says.
Once he determines carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. Greene places the patient on 100 percent oxygen. Because breathing carbon monoxide affects the body organs that require oxygen, he monitors them closely to see if there is any end-organ damage as a result.
"If you suspect a loved one was exposed to carbon monoxide, get the loved one out of the home and open windows to vent the area,” Dr. Greene says. “Turn off any likely sources like space heaters and generators then call the fire department to inspect the home. No one should return to the home until it has been proven there is no ongoing carbon monoxide exposure.”
As an added layer of protection, Dr. Greene strongly encourages that every home should have multiple carbon monoxide detectors installed along with smoke detectors.