Miami, FL – If you’ve felt unexpectedly dizzy, lightheaded, or unusually tired this spring, safety officials in Florida say it may be worth checking more than dehydration or heat fatigue.
According to fire safety and public health officials, mild carbon monoxide exposure often begins with symptoms that feel easy to dismiss — especially in spring, when residents don’t typically associate indoor air risks with warmer weather.
“Dizziness and headaches are often the earliest signs,” officials say. “And carbon monoxide is rarely what people suspect in Florida.”
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by gas appliances, water heaters, generators, grills, and furnaces. Because it provides no smell or visible warning, exposure can build gradually inside homes, condos, and apartments.
Emergency responders across Miami-Dade County and Orange County, including incidents reported in Miami and Orlando, note that many residents experiencing early symptoms assume dehydration, allergies, seasonal illness, or exhaustion.
Officials say spring can still present risk in Florida. Cooler overnight temperatures, occasional heater use, indoor cooking, or improper generator use during storms can all increase exposure — especially when windows are closed at night.
Symptoms often begin subtly: dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, or a lingering headache that doesn’t feel typical. During long evenings indoors — including gatherings to watch major events like the big game — those warning signs are especially easy to overlook.
By the time carbon monoxide alarms sound — if they’re installed and working — exposure may already be serious.
Officials stress that carbon monoxide doesn’t depend on climate or season. It depends on conditions.
As Florida moves deeper into spring, safety experts urge residents to take unexplained symptoms seriously, test carbon monoxide detectors, and avoid assuming warm weather eliminates the risk.
Sometimes, how you feel is the first warning.
