JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With a cold front ushering in our coldest temperatures of the season, you might be tempted to turn on the heat.
And that is one of the reasons officials are warning of a silent killer in your home that hospitalizes more than 100,000 people each year.
What's scary about carbon monoxide is that you can't see it or smell it. Making it crucial to have carbon monoxide detectors to protect everyone in your home.
And the threat is often greatest in November when hurricane season crosses over with the arrival of cooler temperatures. Posing a dual threat to people here on the First Coast.
Guillermo Rodriguez, a public safety advocate for the Portable Generators Manufacturers Association, says the same generator used to keep power on in your home can also lead to nausea, headaches, or vomiting, even death if used in an enclosed room.
"If using a generator, let's make sure to have the proper placement. A generator should never be used inside a home or a garage," Rodriguez told First Coast News.
"Take your generator outside as far away as possible. Never close to a home garage, shed, truck bed, or any other fully enclosed or partially enclosed location where carbon monoxide emissions can build up."
So to protect you and your family, experts recommend installing carbon monoxide alarms.
“The National Fire Protection Association recommends having a carbon monoxide alarm in every level of the home and near each of the bedrooms. Changing the batteries regularly is very important as well,” Rodriguez explained.
And another threat to be aware of for a carbon monoxide leak is gas-powered stoves.
So if you're among the half million Floridians with a gas stove in your home, or perhaps are visiting someone with one over Thanksgiving, make sure a carbon monoxide detector is nearby.