4902 North Biltmore Lane
P.O. Box 77007
Madison, WI 53707-1007
www.alliantenergy.com
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karmen Wilhelm, APR (319) 786-7788
FLU SYMPTOMS COULD SIGNAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Alliant Energy offers safety tips
MADISON, Wis Oct. 11, 2006 While the symptoms of headache, nausea and
fatigue are usually associated with the flu, they re also a warning sign of another
serious health problem carbon monoxide poisoning. Alliant Energy encourages
customers to recognize the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and to take safety
precautions this heating season.
Because symptoms mimic those of the flu, victims of carbon monoxide poisoning often
don t realize the cause of their illness, said Larry Jensema, a service specialist for
Alliant Energy. Headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or disorientation, fatigue,
muscle weakness and difficulty waking are all early indicators of possible carbon
monoxide poisoning.
Fall is the peak time for carbon monoxide problems, because homeowners are turning
on their furnaces for the first time and their homes are sealed up tight. Carbon
monoxide is an invisible, tasteless, odorless gas that occurs when fuel-burning
appliances aren t working properly. When people breathe in carbon monoxide, it enters
the bloodstream and interferes with the absorption of oxygen by the blood cells.
If exposure continues over a long period of time, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead
to brain damage or even death. If the symptoms are not accompanied by fever, if
everyone in the family is ill, or if the symptoms disappear when you leave the house, it
could be carbon monoxide poisoning, added Jensema. If you suspect carbon
monoxide is in your home, get everyone out of the house and call a service
professional to inspect your appliances right away. If you or anyone living in your home
is seriously ill, call 911.
Jensema recommends that customers protect against carbon monoxide poisoning by
using gas appliances correctly, keeping them well maintained and having natural gas
furnaces inspected every year. Additionally, he reminds customers to refrain from
heating their home with a gas oven or range, and to be careful when using an unvented
space heater. Never use a charcoal grill indoors or a propane grill in an enclosed space.
To keep your family safe this winter, it s especially important to install quality carbon
monoxide detectors in your home s living and sleeping areas, said Jensema. Be sure
to change the batteries in a carbon monoxide detector often, just as you do with smoke
detectors. Whenever you change your clocks to Daylight Savings Time, change the
batteries in both in your smoke and CO detectors too.
To learn more, call Alliant Energy at 1-800-ALLIANT to request a free PowerHouse
brochure on Natural Gas Safety, or visit the PowerHouse Web site at
www.powerhousetv.com.
Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1.5 million
customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electricity and natural gas service is the company s
primary focus. Interstate Power and Light, the company s Iowa utility subsidiary, serves 535,000 electric and
238,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company s Web site at
www.alliantenergy.com.
###
ANR173-06
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment