The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its first carbon monoxide surveillance report, documenting unintentional exposures to carbon monoxide in the state between 2019 and 2023. The data is expected to help state and local officials develop targeted education and intervention strategies aimed at reducing emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by carbon monoxide.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning can be a silent killer, but it is also completely preventable,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Simple steps like installing and maintaining carbon monoxide alarms and checking appliances can save lives. This first-ever report gives us the tools and strategies to act now, protecting Illinois families and preventing these tragedies before they happen.”
Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow highlighted the frequency of incidents involving carbon monoxide. “In 2024, Illinois fire departments responded to 9,860 carbon monoxide-related calls across our state. These numbers serve as a powerful reminder that carbon monoxide remains a serious and potentially deadly threat in our homes. The good news is that prevention is simple working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives,” Pankow said. “Regularly testing your alarms, checking expiration dates, and replacing units that are broken or outdated is your strongest line of defense against accidental carbon monoxide poisoning or worse.”
According to the report, an average of 940 emergency department visits, 126 hospital admissions, and nearly 57 deaths occurred each year due to carbon monoxide exposure during the five-year study period. Although exposures were most common from October through March when heating systems are in use, incidents happened throughout the year.
The most frequent sources of unintentional exposures included fires; malfunctioning or poorly ventilated furnaces, gas stoves, water heaters; vehicle exhaust from cars running in garages; generators used indoors or too close to open windows; and gas-powered tools operated without adequate ventilation.
During the five-year span, fire departments responded to more than 50,000 total incidents related to carbon monoxide statewide. Most events—95%—took place in residential settings. Commercial locations made up about 2.4% of reports; other sites included public buildings, healthcare facilities, assisted living centers, educational institutions.
The report found that incidents were more likely on Sundays and during evening hours (6 p.m.–midnight), times when people are typically at home using appliances that may emit carbon monoxide.
A significant gap was noted in reporting on detector usage: In 81% of cases there was no information on whether a working CO detector was present at the exposure site. Of those with available data, six percent reported being alerted by a working detector; one percent indicated no working detector was present; while twelve percent listed the status as unknown.
As outlined in the document: “The data shows that carbon monoxide exposure is not a rare or isolated threat. It is happening every day, affecting residents of all ages, in homes across every part of Illinois…. This report is more than a set of statistics; it is a call to action.”
IDPH plans several initiatives based on these findings:
– Enhancing public information campaigns year-round with emphasis during high-risk seasons.
– Supporting local health departments with targeted outreach for affected communities.
– Promoting awareness about installing and maintaining CO detectors along with regular inspection of gas-powered appliances.
– Improving coordination among agencies—including first responders—to address high-risk environments before exposures occur.
– Continuing efforts for better CO surveillance reporting practices focused on highlighting the importance of detectors.
