Carbon monoxide poisoning, cold weather care and more

In this short video, medical toxicologist David Harris Schaffer, MD, spoke about the dangers posed by carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be subtle but also quickly become fatal if it goes unnoticed.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can sometimes be hard to recognize, as they include symptoms like a headache, dizziness or fatigue, which you may dismiss as illness or overexertion. Since carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and invisible, you won’t see, smell or taste any immediate red flags.

The best defense against carbon monoxide poisoning? Get a carbon monoxide detector for your home, and make sure you have one on every floor. Dr. Schaffer noted that carbon monoxide does not rise or sink, so you can be perfectly safe on the first floor and still have a dangerous carbon monoxide leak in the basement or top floor. Carbon monoxide detectors will help you to stay safe and know when to walk immediately outside and call your local fire department for help.

Dr. Schaffer also spoke on the risks of cold weather, which can feel especially strong in South Carolina, where we are often not used to dealing with significant cold weather and the associated dangers.

Older adults and small children are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures, and it’s important to ensure everyone is safely bundled up and watching for the symptoms of hypothermia or even frostbite.

Mild hypothermia will often result in confusion, shivering, issues with slurring speech, feeling drowsy or having skin that is cold to the touch. Confusion and problems with movement will increase as the hypothermia worsens, while you may see the affected person stop shivering, breathe more slowly, move stiffly or have skin or lips that appear pale or ‘blue’.

When someone becomes severely hypothermic, they may fall unconscious, have muscles become very rigid, their heartbeat may become irregular or slow and their skin continues to pale or appear blue.

Even initially mild hypothermia can become moderate or severe quickly, so it’s important to seek out medical attention as soon as possible.

Finally, Dr. Schaffer explained what to watch for when it comes to frostbite, what conditions put you most at risk and why it may not be the right choice to warm up the affected limb if you worry you’re frostbitten.