Carbon Monoxide - The Silent Killer Strikes Again

One of the stars of the MTV reality show "Buckwild" and two other people were found dead in their vehicle in West Virginia last week and the cause was carbon monoxide poisoning. The three were in a 1984 Ford Bronco that was stuck in the mud with the tailpipe buried in the mud which allowed the cab to become saturated with a fatal level of CO. This tragedy should be a sharp reminder to us all to be sure that the tailpipe of your vehicle is clear of any obstructions like snow or mud when idling a car. This is critically important if you are stranded and need to run the car for heat. Remember CO is colorless and odorless and can overcome you before you even realize what is happening. Keep a candle and blankets in your emergency kit and you will not need to run the car as much if you become stuck since the heat from the candle can help warm the interior enough to keep you from freezing.