Carbon monoxide poisoning — Oklahoma Permit Test

You cannot see, smell or taste carbon monoxide gas from your engine, but it can kill you.

Because nothing warns your senses, the gas can build up in the car until you are too drowsy to react.

You can’t see, smell or taste it, but carbon monoxide gas from your engine can kill you.

Carbon monoxide is most likely to leak into your car when the heater is running, when the exhaust system is not working properly, or in heavy traffic.

Heaters pull outside air into the car, and in heavy traffic that air is full of other cars’ exhaust.

Carbon monoxide is most likely to leak into your car when the heater is running, when your exhaust system is not working properly or when you’re in heavy traffic and breathing exhaust fumes from other cars.

A faulty exhaust system can leak poisonous fumes into the back seat area, where children may be sitting or sleeping.

Children asleep in the back may not notice they feel sick, so a leaking exhaust can hurt them first.

A faulty exhaust system can leak poisonous fumes into the back seat area where children may be sitting or sleeping.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include feeling drowsy or dizzy, lights seeming brighter, blue skin and lips, and a tightening forehead.

Knowing the early signs lets you get fresh air before the gas makes you pass out at the wheel.

You feel drowsy and/or dizzy. Lights seem brighter. The skin has a blue color; lips turn blue. Your forehead tightens.

If you feel symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, pull off the road, park, turn off the motor and open your windows.

Stopping the engine stops the gas, and fresh air clears it before you lose the ability to drive.

Pull off the road, park and turn off the motor.

Never let the engine run in a closed garage.

In a closed space the exhaust has nowhere to go, and the gas can build to a deadly level within minutes.

Never let the engine run in a closed garage.

In congested traffic, close the fresh-air vent.

In a traffic jam the outside air is thick with exhaust, so the vent would pull it straight into the car.

In congested traffic, close the fresh-air vent.

On highways in cold weather, open the fresh-air vent.

With the heater on and windows shut in winter, fresh air keeps any leaking fumes from building up.

On the highways in cold weather, open the fresh-air vent.

Have your exhaust system checked regularly by a reputable mechanic, and be alert for any unusual roar from under the car.

A loud roar often means a hole in the exhaust, which is exactly where the gas leaks out toward the cabin.

Be alert for any unusual roar from under the car.

How can you tell that carbon monoxide is in your car?

You cannot see, smell or taste it. Because nothing warns your senses, the gas can build up in the car until you are too drowsy to react. Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.60: “You can’t see, smell or taste it, but carbon monoxide gas from your engine can kill you.”