By Althea Peterson
Tulsa World

TULSA, Okla. — You can't be complacent against carbon monoxide — a colorless and odorless killer.

Every year when the first cold front of the season rolls through, the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning rises.

"We call it the 'silent killer,' " said Mike Harris, Tulsa Fire Department chief officer of public education.

"The people succumb to it usually around this time of year, when homes are sealed up more."

A furnace check usually takes less than an hour, and can save your life and your money, said Tom Boyce, owner of Airco Service of Tulsa.

"Burning unclean is both unsafe and inefficient," Boyce said.

Here are some of Boyce's and Harris' tips for staying safe while staying warm.

Accept no substitutes: Never use an oven or charcoal grill to heat a home. It may heat, but it will also poison your home. Also, never warm up a car inside a closed garage.

A cause for alarm: Buy carbon monoxide detectors to alert your family to a buildup of gas in your

home. Place one on each floor with appliances. Hang them near the appliances and replace their batteries twice each year.

Don't sacrifice service: Before lighting your furnace for the first time of the season, have it serviced to ensure proper ventilation and, if it's gas, a proper blue flame.

Don't catch it if you can: If everyone in a household has flu-like symptoms when first waking up, and the symptoms fade during the day, you may have a carbon monoxide leak. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue.

Call for help: Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, so the Tulsa Fire Department says treat any suspicion as an emergency. Call 911 and ask the Fire Department to check for dangerous gases. Evacuate the home and do not return until it is checked by a professional.

Copyright 2007 Tulsa World
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News