116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa Poison Control Center reports an increase in carbon monoxide calls
Simple preventive steps can reduce your risk of dangerous carbon monoxide exposure.
Feb. 9, 2026 5:30 am
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Some winter weather dangers are obvious: poor visibility when driving in the snow, slippery ice on sidewalks and frostbite on unprotected skin. Though it may not spring to mind as readily as the others, carbon monoxide exposure can be another hazard of the colder months.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas created by burning fuels. Any appliance that burns fuel, from water heaters to lawn mowers, produces carbon monoxide.
Janna Day, education and outreach manager at the Iowa Poison Control Center, said the center has seen a 60 percent increase in calls about carbon monoxide poisoning over the last three months compared to the previous three. While the recent influx of calls isn’t necessarily unusual, it’s a good reminder to include carbon monoxide on the list of winter dangers to be mindful of.
“The opportunity for a malfunction in the furnace or a device in your home, and for you to be at home without great ventilation is just higher in the wintertime,” Day said.
However, carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable. Taking proactive steps to identify leaks in household devices and avoiding certain behaviors can reduce your chance of being exposed to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide.
- If you are running a gas-powered generator, make sure it is at least 20 feet from your home.
- Do not use gas from a stove to heat your home or use a gas-powered generator indoors.
- Make sure chimney flues are clean that gas-burning appliances are serviced regularly.
- Do not warm up a car or other gas burning machines inside a garage that’s attached to a home.
Ruby Perin, the Healthy Homes branch manager at Linn County Public Health, said piercing headaches with throbbing temples are the number one symptom of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning people should look out for. More severe symptoms include weakness, dizziness, vomiting, nausea and shortness of breath.
According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, the level and duration of carbon monoxide exposure affect the symptoms people experience. Quickly increasing carbon monoxide levels can lead to rapid changes, while longer-term, lower-level exposures may be harder to identify.
Day said she recommends having a carbon monoxide detector on every level of a home, and one near each sleeping area. Test the detectors on a regular basis and ensure their batteries are fully charged.
Linn County News reported there has been at least one call to the Linn County Rural Fire Department in 2026 regarding carbon monoxide exposure. A spokesperson for UnityPoint Health — St. Luke’s said their emergency room treated one patient for carbon monoxide exposure in January.
If you suspect you’re being exposed to carbon monoxide, get fresh air immediately. Questions should be directed to the Iowa Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222, or call 911 to have a first responder check your home.
Comments: fern.alling@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters