Key Points

The region, like the rest of France, experienced a particularly mild autumn and an early winter with temperatures above seasonal norms. These weather conditions may explain the decrease in the number of carbon monoxide poisonings compared to the same period in 2010, but they are also responsible for the spikes in poisonings observed in October and November. Indeed, the rise in temperatures combined with high humidity and light winds reduces the draft in flue gas exhaust ducts. These weather factors increase the risk of CO poisoning, especially among users of coal-fired heating appliances.In the second half of the heating season, the increase in the number of reports involving generators placed indoors during inclement weather led to the dissemination of specific prevention messages dedicated to the proper use of portable space heaters and generators, developed by the National Institute for Prevention and Health Education (INPES) and the Directorate General for Health (DGS).