ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Health and the State Fire Marshal are warning people to beware of carbon monoxide poisoning this winter, pointing out that hospitalizations and emergency room visits are most common between November and February.
More than 100 people died of carbon monoxide poisoning between 2008 and 2016, according to the Department of Health's most recent data.
"Unfortunately, we do see deaths and tragedies from carbon monoxide," State Fire Marshal Bruce West said. "They are fully preventable."
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, West said people should check their carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they have one on every floor. Under state law, these devices must be placed within 10 feet of a bedroom. Otherwise, you may never know that an odorless, colorless gas has started to fill your home.
West said you should also have a technician check your furnace, and he said you should make sure snow doesn't plug vents.
You should also be careful about what you're using inside during the winter.
"Never run a generator in your home, never have a charcoal grill. Anything that can provide carbon monoxide, never have that inside your home," West said. "Don't run your car in your garage if you have an attached garage."
To raise awareness this week, the State Fire Marshal posted a video to its Facebook page, featuring a Minnesota mom who lost two sons to carbon monoxide poisoning two decades ago. "Had I bought that CO alarm, my boys would be here today," she said in the video.
West said alarms last about seven to 10 years. You should check your batteries regularly as well.