11/04/2025
NEWS RELEASE: KNOW THE SOURCES AND SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE
CONCORD, N.H. – As National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month kicks off, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging all residents and visitors to take steps to prevent and detect an invisible, deadly danger: carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Last year, there were 10 accidental CO poisoning deaths in New Hampshire. Fire departments also responded to 2,646 CO-related calls statewide in 2024, according to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), 949 of which confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide.
“Unlike smoke from a fire, CO has no color, no odor, and no taste, making it undetectable without an alarm,” said New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey. “This is why CO alarms are so important. Do not ignore the symptoms, especially if more than one person is feeling them. If you suspect CO poisoning, immediately get outside to fresh air, then call 9-1-1.”
CO poisoning can affect anyone, and exposure to carbon monoxide can cause both short-term and long-term health consequences. High concentrations can be fatal in minutes, while lower levels over time can cause chronic health issues. Certain groups at higher risk for CO poisoning include children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals who are hearing impaired or immunocompromised, and pets. CO poisoning may also go unnoticed because some symptoms mimic common illnesses, like the flu and food poisoning.
CO poisoning is preventable with the right information and precautions. Through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Grant Program, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office has installed CO alarms in more than 200 schools statewide and partnered with the American Red Cross of Northern New England, which has installed CO alarms in 257 homes.
“When a CO alarm sounds, treat the alert as a real emergency every time. Have a plan and get your family outside immediately. It could save your life,” said Stephanie Couturier, Regional CEO at the American Red Cross of Northern New England. “The Red Cross is grateful for this unique opportunity to partner with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office. Through the CPSC grant, we were able to install these CO alarms alongside our smoke alarms, at no cost, to help make homes safer throughout the Granite State."
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and the American Red Cross of Northern New England are also active members of the Northeast Carbon Monoxide Alliance (NECOA), a regional volunteer organization with the mission of understanding the causes of CO poisoning and preventing future deaths and injuries.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages all Granite Staters to make a plan for CO prevention, including the installation of CO alarms in their homes and regularly checking batteries to ensure the alarms are functioning properly. CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside sleeping areas and on every level of a home, including the basement.
Additionally, homeowners should ensure potential sources of CO, like gas-powered water heating systems, boilers, fireplaces, furnaces, and dryers, are properly ventilated and inspected regularly. Generators should always be run outdoors in a well-ventilated space, at least 20 feet from any building or opening, and vehicles should never be left running in a garage. Gas-powered appliances and tools, like stoves, ovens, portable heaters, charcoal and gas grills, welding equipment, forklifts and other equipment should also be properly maintained.
Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, fatigue, shortness of breath, sleepiness, loss of muscle control, and unconsciousness.
In New Hampshire, CO alarms are required in several types of occupancies per the 2021 edition of NFPA 101 and NH RSA 153:10-a, including certain residential homes, rental units, daycares, and health care facilities.
Visit the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s website for more resources and the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Media Toolkit, which includes downloadable PSAs, social media content, and a CO safety poster for distribution year-round.
