As Iowa continues to show signs of winter, residents are reminded of a risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you and your vehicle are stuck on the side of the road during a winter storm, Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says it’s important to keep your tail pipe clear from any ice or snow in order to keep exhaust fumes from going back into your car, “Carbon monoxide poisoning in cars is just like the reason we have carbon monoxide detectors in our homes for if there’s a malfunction with our furnace and stuff like that. It’s going to make the person lightheaded, possibly nauseous, usually very tired sometimes. It builds up in your body, replaces the oxygen and can cause suffocation, eventually.”

Kempf says other important ways to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning this winter are to only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows, and to never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven. For up-to-the-minute severe weather coverage and cancellation information, listen to the Raccoon Valley Radio Network.