Quake May Have Sprung Deadly Leaks : With colder weather here, checking home’s gas heating system may prevent a tragedy

Statistics vary on the number of people who are killed each year by carbon monoxide gas, which is acutely dangerous because it is both odorless and colorless. A highly reliable source of such information, however, is the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. On average, the CDC says, about 14 people a day die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States. As many as one-third of those fatalities are accidental, and mostly preventable.

Former tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis died in such fashion in September, from a lethal carbon monoxide buildup related to the faulty installation of a propane heater. Times columnist Ron Galperin also noted the tragedy of the Marshall family, in Pasadena, who suffered from what appeared to be flu-like symptoms that grew steadily more severe. Eventually, their 10-year-old son died in his sleep. The cause: carbon monoxide emanations from a faulty wall furnace. And, in a separate case, a 7-month-old San Fernando baby recently had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.

The latter case brings us to the point of local concern here: the San Fernando infant lived in a home where at least one vent was cracked because of the Northridge earthquake. Now that colder temperatures have arrived, we have a suggestion: Whether your home was severely damaged or escaped with only minor problems, it is worth the time and effort to have your heating system checked for cracks or faulty vent connections. Dust or soot that may have been shaken loose by the quake and its aftershocks may also be a problem if enough of it has accumulated in the vents to cause complete combustion.

The case of the rescued San Fernando baby “is an example of the types of things we are concerned about” after the temblor, said Gas Co. spokesperson Michelle Bagley.

Checking the color of your heating system’s pilot light is one way to proceed. Things are fine if your flame is a steady blue cone. Things aren’t fine if the flame is orange or yellow and burns high and erratically. And if you’re feeling healthy, but experience nausea, dizziness or headaches after you’ve fired up the home heater, turn it off, open the windows, get out of the house, and call the gas company.

If you have any reason to doubt the integrity of your heating system, it’s worth the peace of mind you’ll get from calling the gas company at (800) 427-2200 for a free home inspection. We don’t need any more tragedies from that earthquake.