LINCOLN COUNTY – The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) this week announced that it received a grant to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in the county.
“Carbon monoxide is a gas that you cannot see or smell, but it can make you very sick or even cause death,” LCHD said in a release. “It comes from burning fuels such as wood, gas, oil or charcoal.”
According to the release, the $10,000.00 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) will allow LCHD to work with local partners to share easy-to-understand educational materials at community events, create a toolkit for local organizations to help spread safety messages, conduct public awareness campaigns, give out carbon monoxide detectors to community members and collect local data to improve future prevention efforts.
The program aims to both raise public awareness and build lasting prevention efforts, LCHD said, noting that findings from the project and next steps will be shared with community members and stakeholders.
LCHD said its project is part of a statewide effort called Taking Action with Data, run by the Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.
“Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen anywhere – in your home, garage, or even while enjoying activities like hunting, fishing or boating,” said Lincoln County Health Officer Shelley Cohrs. “The best way to stay safe is to make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working properly.”
From 2019 through July 2025, LCHD investigated 10 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in Lincoln County. Most were caused by heaters, furnaces, or boats, or by using gas-powered tools indoors or in enclosed spaces.
“Many of these incidents could have been prevented with working CO detectors and proper ventilation,” LCHD stated.
For more information on carbon monoxide grant activities, contact Shelley Cohrs at shelley.cohrs@co.lincoln.wi.us or 715-539-1360.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here