posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 9:38 AM
by
klehan
CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Peaks in December and January
It has no color. It has no odor. It has no taste. It kills.
Every year, the CDC says, it sends at least 15,000 Americans to the emergency room.
At least 439 people die of unintentional,
non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning every year, new CDC statistics show. But that's very likely an undercount.
Thirteen states require doctors to report carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies do not routinely test for it. And since the symptoms can be confused with many diseases – particularly among the elderly – coroners don't always suspect it.
The new CDC report shows that most accidental carbon monoxide poisonings happen in January, and the second most in December. The fewest are in the summer months of July and August.
From 1999 to 2004, Nebraska had the highest rate of carbon monoxide poisoning. California had the lowest rate.
The CDC report appears in the Dec. 21 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.