Was I Poisoned by Carbon Monoxide in Tennessee? Symptoms, Signs, and What to Do Next

By: Brad C. Burnette

Every year, thousands of people across the United States are sickened, and hundreds are killed, by a gas they never saw coming. Carbon monoxide (CO) has no smell, no color, and no taste. It doesn’t irritate your nose or throat. You simply breathe it in, and before you know what is happening, it begins starving your organs of the oxygen they need to survive.

If you or someone you love is feeling strange after being inside a home, hotel room, vacation cabin, or workplace, carbon monoxide poisoning might be to blame. This guide will walk you through what carbon monoxide is, how it makes you sick, what the warning signs look like, and critically what you need to do right now if you think you’ve been exposed.

What Is Carbon Monoxide, and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is produced whenever a carbon-containing fuel — gasoline, natural gas, propane, wood, charcoal, kerosene, or oil — burns incompletely. Furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces, cars, portable generators, and gas-powered tools all produce it under normal conditions. When these devices are properly installed, maintained, and vented, the gas safely escapes. When they are not, it can silently build up to deadly levels.

The reason CO is so dangerous comes down to chemistry. When you inhale carbon monoxide, your red blood cells pick it up far more readily than they pick up oxygen. The CO binds to hemoglobin — the protein that carries oxygen through your blood — and forms a compound called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). The result: your heart, brain, and other organs are deprived of the oxygen they need to function. This is why carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage and death, sometimes without any warning at all.

The most terrifying aspect of CO poisoning is that victims who are asleep, intoxicated, or in a deeply enclosed space can lose consciousness and die before they ever realize something is wrong.

The Most Common Sources of Carbon Monoxide in Tennessee Homes and Buildings

Understanding where carbon monoxide comes from is the first step in identifying whether you were exposed. The most frequent sources include:

• Faulty furnaces and heat exchangers — A cracked heat exchanger allows combustion gases to mix with circulating air. This is one of the single most dangerous and common sources of residential CO.
• Gas water heaters — An improperly vented or malfunctioning water heater can pump CO directly into a living space or bathroom.
• Gas stoves and ovens — Never use a gas oven to heat your home. Even a properly functioning stove produces CO.
• Fireplaces and chimneys — Blocked or dirty chimneys trap combustion gases inside the home.
• Portable generators — Generators produce massive amounts of CO. Running one inside a garage or near a window is potentially fatal, and it can happen within minutes.
• Cars idling in attached garages — Even with the garage door open, vehicle exhaust can seep into a home.
• Boats and RVs — Confined spaces with combustion engines or propane appliances create high-risk environments.
• Vacation rental cabins — Here in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, many cabin rentals rely on gas appliances. A poorly maintained heater or water heater in a vacation cabin can poison an entire family overnight.

If you were staying in a hotel, motel, cabin rental, or apartment when your symptoms began, the building’s heating or water systems may be responsible.

What Are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

This is where things get complicated — and dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning mimics the flu so closely that many victims (and even some doctors) misdiagnose it. The key difference: CO poisoning does not cause a fever. If you feel flu-like but have no fever, and if your symptoms improve when you leave the building but return when you come back, CO exposure is a serious possibility.

Early (Mild) Symptoms

At low to moderate CO levels, the symptoms are easy to dismiss:

• Mild to moderate headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Weakness or unusual fatigue
• Nausea or upset stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat

These symptoms are the body’s first warning. Do not ignore them. Many CO poisoning fatalities happen because victims assumed they had the flu and went to bed rather than getting outside.Moderate Symptoms

As exposure continues or CO levels increase, symptoms worsen:

• Severe, throbbing headache
• Chest pain
• Disorientation or confusion
• Accelerated heart rate
• Impaired coordination (stumbling, difficulty walking)
• Blurred vision

Severe Symptoms — This Is a Medical Emergency

• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Respiratory failure
• Coma

At concentrations above 150–200 parts per million (ppm), death is possible. In high-concentration situations, such as a generator running indoors, a person can lose consciousness within minutes without experiencing any prior warning symptoms.

Special Risks: Who Is Most Vulnerable?

While healthy adults can be seriously harmed, some groups face even greater danger:

• Children — Their faster breathing rate and smaller bodies mean CO builds up more quickly.
• Elderly individuals — Greater susceptibility to cardiovascular effects.
• People with heart or lung disease — CO can trigger heart attack or cardiac arrest even at lower levels.
• Pregnant women — Carbon monoxide poses catastrophic risks to unborn children, including miscarriage and fetal death.
• Pets — Animals are often more sensitive to CO than humans and may show symptoms first.

If your pet is suddenly lethargic or acting strangely, take that seriously.

The Hidden Danger: Delayed Neurological Effects

Here is something that far too few people, including some medical providers, understand: you can feel “recovered” from CO poisoning and then develop serious brain damage weeks later.

Medical researchers call this Delayed Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (DNS). Studies show that up to 50% of CO poisoning survivors can develop this condition, which appears days to weeks after the initial exposure. It is caused by immunologically mediated inflammation in the central nervous system.

Symptoms of DNS include:

• Memory loss and difficulty recalling recent events
• Personality changes — depression, anxiety, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly (“brain fog”)
• Problems with balance and coordination
• Parkinsonism — symptoms resembling Parkinson’s disease
• Speech difficulties
• Fatigue that never fully resolves

This delayed syndrome is one reason why carbon monoxide poisoning cases can be far more serious — and far more valuable as legal claims — than they first appear. An injury that seems mild at the time of exposure may evolve into a life-altering neurological condition. This is also why you should not settle any legal claim quickly and without the guidance of an experienced attorney.

What to Do Immediately If You Think You’ve Been Exposed to Carbon Monoxide

Speed matters. Every second of continued exposure causes more damage. Here is what to do:

Step 1: Get Out Immediately

Do not wait to gather belongings. Do not try to find the source of the leak. Get every person and pet out of the building immediately. Go outside to fresh air.

Step 2: Call 911

Once you are outside, call 911. Firefighters have equipment to measure CO levels in the building and can identify the source of the leak. Do not re-enter the building until they have given you permission.

Step 3: Get Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine

Go to the emergency room. Tell the doctor you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. Ask specifically for a carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) blood test. This is the definitive diagnostic test for CO exposure. Standard pulse oximeters cannot detect carbon monoxide. They will show a normal reading even when your blood is saturated with CO. A blood test is essential.

The treatment for CO poisoning is high-flow 100% oxygen therapy. Severe cases may require hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) — treatment in a pressurized oxygen chamber — which can speed CO elimination and reduce the risk of delayed neurological damage.

Keep a copy of all your medical records. Your ER records, blood test results, and treatment notes are critical evidence if you later pursue a legal claim.

Step 4: Document Everything

Once you are safely receiving medical care:

• Note where you were, what appliances were in use, and when your symptoms began.
• Photograph the appliances, the space, and any visible signs of damage or poor maintenance.
• Collect copies of any fire department or emergency responder reports.
• If you were in a rental property, hotel, or workplace, do not let the property manager repair or dispose of the appliance until it has been inspected.

Step 5: Do Not Sign Anything From an Insurance Company

Property owners, hotels, and landlords often act quickly to limit their legal exposure. An insurance adjuster may contact you within days of the incident offering a settlement or asking for a recorded statement. Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement without speaking to an attorney first. Early settlements are almost always far less than what your case may be worth — especially if delayed neurological injuries haven’t yet appeared.

Who Is Legally Responsible for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

If someone else’s negligence caused your CO exposure, you may have the right to file a premises liability lawsuit and recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. Potentially liable parties include:

• Landlords and property managers who failed to maintain appliances or install working CO detectors
• Hotel and motel operators who failed to properly maintain heating systems
• Vacation cabin rental owners and platforms like Airbnb and VRBO hosts who failed to maintain safe properties
• Employers who failed to comply with OSHA ventilation and safety requirements
• Manufacturers of defective furnaces, water heaters, generators, or CO detectors

Tennessee law also provides for wrongful death claims if a family member died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Tennessee’s Statute of Limitations — Time Is Not on Your Side

Under Tennessee Code Section 28-3-104, you generally have one year from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Tennessee. This deadline is strict. Missing it almost always means losing your right to any compensation, regardless of how strong your case is.

Because CO poisoning symptoms can be subtle, delayed, or initially misdiagnosed, the “clock” on your claim can be complex. An experienced Tennessee carbon monoxide attorney can help you understand when the statute of limitations began to run and ensure your rights are protected.

Talk to a Carbon Monoxide Injury Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee

At Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette, we represent injured people and grieving families across Tennessee in carbon monoxide poisoning cases. Our firm has previously handled significant carbon monoxide exposure cases, including matters involving vacation rental cabins in Sevier County. We know how these cases are investigated, what evidence is critical, and how to fight for full and fair compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured by carbon monoxide exposure — whether in a rental cabin, apartment, hotel, or workplace — contact us today for a free consultation. We charge no fees unless we win your case.