Move everyone to fresh air
Leave the home immediately and account for household members at a safe location. Take symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain or confusion seriously.
Call 911
Tell the dispatcher that a carbon monoxide alarm sounded and report any symptoms. Follow emergency instructions and do not go back inside to silence the unit.
Do not assume a false alarm
A detector can be the only warning because CO has no smell, color or taste. The absence of visible smoke does not make the situation safe.
Maintenance is a later step
After responders clear the home, follow their direction regarding appliances and alarms. Detector Inspectors can help with routine detector testing and replacement, not source diagnosis or emergency clearance.
Safety references
Primary sources used for this page:
Manufacturer instructions and current local requirements control. For an emergency, call 911.