Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Treatment
Emergency responders have confirmed CO in the building and moved everyone outside. What happens next — and is there a carbon monoxide poisoning treatment you can do at home? The short answer: no. Treatment for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning centers on high-concentration oxygen therapy to restore oxygen delivery as quickly as possible, along with medical monitoring for complications that may not be obvious right away. This page covers how to treat carbon monoxide poisoning safely, what hospital care typically involves, when hyperbaric oxygen may be considered, and why follow-up matters even after symptoms improve.
This is general information — not medical advice. If you suspect active exposure or severe symptoms, move to fresh air and contact emergency services right away.
In 60 Seconds
- Get to fresh air immediately and call emergency services — do not "wait and see."
- High-concentration oxygen is the core treatment; it helps the body clear CO and restore oxygen delivery.
- Diagnosis requires a COHb blood test — a normal pulse oximeter reading does not rule out CO poisoning.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be considered for severe cases or pregnancy (availability varies).
- After treatment, watch for delayed symptoms and fix the CO source before returning home.
What to Do Immediately
If you think someone is being exposed to carbon monoxide right now, get everyone to fresh air and call emergency services — do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Confusion, fainting, chest pain, trouble breathing, or seizures indicate a medical emergency that requires urgent care.
Step-by-step emergency checklist: What to do if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak.
How Doctors Diagnose CO Poisoning
Because CO symptoms can resemble the flu (headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness), clinicians usually combine exposure history with tests. A key test is carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), measured in blood, which reflects how much CO is bound to hemoglobin. Your care team may also check vital signs, neurological status, and oxygenation.
Important nuance: a standard pulse oximeter can appear normal even in CO poisoning because it cannot reliably distinguish oxyhemoglobin from carboxyhemoglobin. That's one reason a COHb blood test and clinical evaluation are important.
Depending on severity, clinicians may order additional tests such as an ECG (heart tracing), chest imaging, or lab work to assess complications and rule out other causes.
Core Treatment: Oxygen Therapy
The main treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is oxygen therapy. In hospital settings this often means high-concentration oxygen delivered through a tight-fitting mask. Oxygen helps the body clear CO faster and improves oxygen delivery to the brain and other organs.
People may be observed for symptom improvement, monitored for heart rhythm or signs of cardiac strain, and reassessed over time. The exact approach depends on symptoms, exposure circumstances, pregnancy status, and clinical findings.
There is no safe "at-home treatment" for suspected CO poisoning beyond leaving the exposure environment and getting professional help. If symptoms are present or an alarm sounded, prioritize evaluation.
What to Expect During Oxygen Therapy
If you or someone you're with receives this treatment for CO poisoning, here's what the experience typically looks like. A clinician places a tight-fitting mask — called a non-rebreather mask — over the nose and mouth. You breathe normally while the mask delivers high-concentration oxygen with each breath. Nearby equipment tracks heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other vital signs in real time, so the care team can see how you're responding. The process may take several hours depending on your initial readings and how quickly your body clears the carbon monoxide. Some people feel noticeably better within the first hour; others need longer observation before clinicians are satisfied with their progress. Throughout the process, staff check in regularly — there's no need to do anything except breathe and rest.
What Happens in the Emergency Department
Arriving at an emergency department after a carbon monoxide incident can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already feeling unwell. Here's a practical overview of what typically happens so you know what to expect.
First, a triage nurse or clinician takes your vital signs — heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing rate. They ask about your symptoms, how long you may have been exposed, and whether you lost consciousness or experienced confusion. Even if you're feeling better by the time you arrive, this information helps the care team understand the severity of the situation.
Next comes a blood draw, specifically for a carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) test. This tells clinicians how much carbon monoxide is still bound to your hemoglobin. You're placed on a high-concentration oxygen mask — the same carbon monoxide treatment described above — while you wait for results. Equipment monitors your heart rhythm and oxygen levels continuously, and staff watch for any signs of cardiac strain or neurological changes.
How long does the whole process take? Expect at least several hours of observation, sometimes longer if COHb levels were high or if symptoms are slow to improve. Clinicians want to see clear improvement and stable readings before discharge.
One thing people often overlook: if family members or housemates were in the same environment, they should also be evaluated — even if they feel fine. CO exposure can affect people differently based on age, health, and activity level during the incident, and some individuals may not notice symptoms right away.
Emergency department evaluation is important even when symptoms seem mild. CO poisoning treatment relies on accurate blood testing and monitoring that cannot be done at home.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): What It Is
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a specialized treatment where a person breathes 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The goal is to deliver more oxygen to tissues and to speed the removal of CO from the body. HBOT is not required for every case and is not available in every hospital.
Clinicians may consider HBOT for severe poisoning or when there is evidence of complications. Public guidance (for clinicians) notes that HBOT may be considered when there are serious neurological symptoms, cardiac involvement, severe acidosis, or high COHb levels, and it may also be used in pregnancy depending on clinical circumstances.
If HBOT is recommended, it should be performed in accredited facilities following strict safety protocols.
Special Situations
Pregnancy: clinicians may treat CO poisoning in pregnancy more aggressively because CO can reduce oxygen delivery to the fetus. If exposure is suspected, seek urgent evaluation even if symptoms seem mild.
Children: symptoms can be harder to describe and can progress quickly. Any suspected exposure in children should be evaluated urgently.
Heart disease / older adults: CO can stress the heart. Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or abnormal heart rhythms require urgent care.
Aftercare and Follow-Up
Some people develop delayed symptoms after an exposure event (sometimes described in medical literature as delayed neurological sequelae, DNS). If you notice new or worsening confusion, memory problems, mood changes, balance issues, or unusual fatigue days or weeks after an incident, seek medical evaluation.
Also prioritize environmental follow-up: identify and fix the CO source (appliances, venting, generator use) and ensure working CO alarms.
See: Long-term effects and delayed symptoms. Prevention checklist.
Questions to Consider Before Leaving the Hospital
Before discharge, it can help to have a few practical questions ready. Some people report feeling relieved after treatment and want to leave quickly — but taking a moment to clarify next steps may prevent confusion later.
- What symptoms should I watch for at home, and how long might delayed symptoms take to appear?
- When should I return to the emergency department?
- Who should I contact if new or worsening symptoms appear — my primary care provider, a specialist, or the ED?
- Should I schedule a follow-up visit, and if so, when?
- Is it safe to return home, or does the CO source need to be confirmed fixed first?
- Has everyone who was exposed during the incident been evaluated?
Writing these questions down or asking a family member to help remember the answers can be valuable — especially since confusion and memory difficulty are common after carbon monoxide exposure.
Prevention After a CO Incident
Once immediate treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is complete, the next priority is making sure the environment is safe before anyone returns. A CO incident is a clear signal that something in the home needs attention — and simply airing out the space is not enough.
Have a qualified professional inspect the home using calibrated detection equipment to find the exact source of carbon monoxide. Do not use the suspected appliance — whether it's a furnace, water heater, stove, or any other fuel-burning device — until it has been repaired or replaced by a licensed technician.
Check that CO alarms are installed and working on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas. If alarms were present but did not sound, they may need to be replaced or repositioned. See: How to detect a carbon monoxide leak.
Schedule maintenance for all fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, and gas dryers. Annual professional inspection can catch problems — like cracked heat exchangers or blocked flues — before they create dangerous conditions again.
If the incident involved a portable generator, review safe placement rules: generators should never be operated indoors, in a garage, or near windows and doors, regardless of ventilation. For a full checklist of steps to reduce future risk, see: Prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Treatment Overview
| Treatment | When Used | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh air + evacuation | Immediately upon suspicion | On-scene (before hospital) |
| High-flow oxygen (mask) | Confirmed or suspected CO exposure | Emergency department / hospital |
| COHb blood test + monitoring | All suspected CO patients | Emergency department |
| ECG / cardiac monitoring | Chest pain, older adults, heart disease | Emergency department / hospital |
| Hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) | Severe cases, pregnancy, neurological signs | Specialized facility (if available) |
| Follow-up evaluation | After discharge, especially if severe exposure | Outpatient / primary care |
Sources & References
- MedlinePlus (NIH) — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- NHS — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- ATSDR/CDC — Toxicological Profile for Carbon Monoxide
- CDC — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you treat carbon monoxide poisoning?
The immediate priority is fresh air and urgent medical evaluation. In hospital settings, oxygen therapy is the core treatment, with monitoring for complications. Some severe cases may be considered for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Can carbon monoxide poisoning be treated at home?
No. There is no safe home treatment beyond leaving the exposure environment and getting professional help. If symptoms exist or an alarm sounded, seek evaluation and have the environment tested.
What medication treats carbon monoxide poisoning?
There is no specific medication antidote. Oxygen is the primary treatment; clinicians may treat symptoms and complications based on individual findings.
Do you always need hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)?
Not always. HBOT may be considered in severe cases or special circumstances (such as pregnancy) depending on symptoms, test results, and availability.
How long does treatment take?
It varies. Some people improve quickly once on oxygen; others need observation and follow-up. Severe cases or complications can require longer care.
What tests do hospitals use?
Commonly a COHb blood test plus clinical assessment. Clinicians may also order ECG and other tests to evaluate heart or neurologic effects.
Why can a pulse oximeter look normal in CO poisoning?
Standard pulse oximeters cannot reliably distinguish carboxyhemoglobin from oxyhemoglobin, so readings can be misleading. Blood testing and clinical evaluation are important.
What should I do after treatment to prevent it happening again?
Have the CO source identified and repaired by a qualified professional before returning. Install or test CO alarms, schedule appliance maintenance, and review prevention steps to reduce future risk.
Last updated: February 15, 2026