Quote:As Texans are experiencing the horror of post-storm freezing temperatures, coupled with mass power outages, water lines bursting, and gas leaks, they are simultaneously suffering from a silent killer: carbon monoxide poisonings. The recent storm knocked out power for millions of residents, and temperatures have been as low as single digits Fahrenheit, or even below 0 degrees. With nowhere to go to warm up, many have turned to bringing outdoor barbecue grills inside the home, as well as keeping gas stoves and ovens running all night. Some have resorted to sleeping in a running car in an enclosed garage. Portable generators, commonly used after hurricane-induced power outages, are meant to remain outdoors, but can be fatal if run inside one’s garage or home. All of these energy sources release the odorless, invisible substance carbon monoxide, which can lead to severe illness and even death.

In these desperate days, close to two million Texans have been freezing, without means to stay warm. While layering clothing is a helpful method of keeping in heat, as well as wearing a hat and gloves indoors, parents especially have been attempting all means to keep their children warm. Cook Children’s Hospital, outside of Fort Worth, has already treated over a dozen children for carbon monoxide poisoning.

These events are not unique to the current situation in Texas, as carbon monoxide poisoning is often known as a silent killer in winter months. As Dr. Judy Stone reported for Forbes, malfunctioning heaters and indoor use of camp stoves, grills, and kerosene heaters are often the culprit. Approximately 50,000 people require emergency care for carbon monoxide poisoning each year in the United States, and up to 400 die. Just this week, over 300 carbon monoxide poisonings have been reported in Harris County alone (home to Houston, Texas), and several people have died.