Phoenix, AZ – If you’ve felt unexpectedly dizzy, lightheaded, or unusually tired this spring, safety officials in Arizona say it may be worth checking more than dehydration or lack of sleep.
According to fire safety and public health officials, mild carbon monoxide exposure often begins with symptoms that feel easy to dismiss — even in warmer states — especially during late winter and early spring when overnight temperatures can still drop.
“Dizziness and headaches are often the earliest signs,” officials say. “And carbon monoxide is rarely the first thing people think about in spring.”
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, gas stoves, and other fuel-burning appliances. Because it provides no smell or visible warning, exposure can build gradually inside homes and apartments.
Emergency responders across Maricopa County and Pima County, including incidents reported in Phoenix and Tucson, note that many residents experiencing early symptoms initially assume dehydration, allergies, seasonal illness, or fatigue from warmer weather.
Officials say spring can still pose risk in Arizona. Heating systems may continue running overnight or during cooler mornings, even as daytime temperatures climb. That intermittent use — combined with closed windows at night — can allow ventilation or equipment issues to go unnoticed.
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 ignore.
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 follow seasons or climate. It follows conditions.
As Arizona moves further into spring, safety experts urge residents to take unexplained symptoms seriously, test carbon monoxide detectors, and avoid assuming warmer weather means lower risk.
Sometimes, how you feel is the first warning.
