Environmental Health Center

California Flood Recovery Scripts

This is an Environminute Disaster Advisory from the National Safety Council and the Governors Office of Emergency Services.

If your home doesn't have power, you may have turned to fuel-burning sources for heat, light and other needs. USE EXTREME CAUTION because the use of fuel-burning devices in closed-in areas poses a great risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are symptoms to watch out for. A mild headache that gets worse, shortness of breath and irritability. Poor judgment, memory loss and rapid fatigue are all signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. The symptoms can lead rapidly to coma and death. To treat carbon monoxide poisoning, immediately get everybody -- and your pets -- out of the building. Provide fresh air and call medical assistance at once.

This Environminute Disaster Advisory was brought to you by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation.

For information on floods and indoor air issues, visit our Flood Waters Fact Sheet.

For more information on the Flood Recovery Radio PSAs, e-mail hochc@nsc.org.